The number of asylum applications in Germany fell significantly last year, according to figures released on Thursday by Germany’s Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).
In 2024, a total of 229,751 people filed initial applications for asylum in Germany, according to BMAF, with the largest number of ayslum-seekers coming from Syria, Afghanistan and Turkey.
That’s nearly 100,000 fewer people than filed for asylum in Germany in 2023, a decrease of 30.2%.
But Germany continues to see far more refugees seeking asylum than other countries in the European Union. Germany received significantly more asylum applications than the next-leading EU countries: Spain, France and Italy.
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said the sharp decline in asylum applications was a success.
“We have been able to significantly reduce irregular migration,” she said, which she credited to expanded police checks and controls along Germany’s land borders.
“we are thwarting the smuggling routes,” Faeser said of the efforts.
Germany introduced the expanded border checks last year, even though all of the country’s neighbours are also members of the visa-free Schengen Area. The measures were instituted on a temporary basis, and are currently set to expire in March.
But the Interior Ministry has already indicated that the checks will continue beyond that date.
Migration and asylum policy are expected to be major campaign issues ahead of German parliamentary elections on February 23.
