Asylum applications in Germany: Decline of almost 45 percent in the first half of the year

Asylum applications in Germany: Decline of almost 45 percent in the first half of the year

The wind has changed in German asylum policy. According to the latest figures, asylum applications in Germany fell sharply in the first half of 2025. Loud daily news 61,336 people applied for asylum for the first time, while 11,482 follow-up applications were received. Compared to the previous year, this represents a dramatic decline of 44.9 percent, because from January to June 2024 there were still 132,201 asylum applications.

The reasons for this development are diverse. Stricter border controls, measures by Balkan states and the changed situation in Syria play a decisive role. Syria, which was previously a main country of origin for asylum seekers, only recorded a limited number of applications to Afghanistan (15,181) with 15,127 applications. A trend reversal that is also reflected in the numbers.

The overall picture in Europe

The entire European Union is facing a similar decline. In the first half of 2025, a total of 388,299 asylum applications were recorded in the EU, Norway and Switzerland, a decrease of 23 percent compared to the previous year. Popular destination countries continue to be Spain and France, which are at the top with 76,020 and 75,428 asylum applications. Germany follows in third place with the applications mentioned so far, such as European Parliament summarizes.

The main countries of origin in the EU are Venezuela with 48,413, Afghanistan with 41,127 and Syria with 23,307 applications. Germany remains the preferred destination country for Afghan and Syrian refugees, while Spain is increasingly attracting Venezuelan asylum seekers. These developments are not only important for the countries affected, but also have an impact on the entire EU and its migration policy.

Criticism of migration policy

Interior Minister Dobrindt sees the declining numbers as a success of his migration policy, but he is also receiving criticism. Green party leader Britta Haßelmann expresses concerns that the federal government's policies could endanger European cooperation. A confidential report from the EU Asylum Agency (EUAA) also points out the strict measures, which include, among other things, the revocation of the protection status for certain refugees from Syria, in particular for criminals and dangerous people.

Things are also getting exciting in neighboring countries. Poland also plans to take its own measures in response to German border controls. This shows that the issue of migration represents not only a national, but also a European challenge.

With current developments, the question of the future direction of asylum policy in Germany and Europe remains open. How quickly will conditions change? And how will politicians react to this? These questions will have to be answered in the coming weeks and months.