Asylum applications in May 2026

In May 2026, 42 525 first-time asylum applicants (non-EU citizens) applied for international protection in EU countries, a 22% decrease compared with May 2025 (54 765) and a 2% decrease compared with April 2026 (43 360).

In the same month, there were also 8 050 subsequent applicants. Compared with May 2025 (8 075), the figure remained virtually unchanged; however, it was 12% lower than in April 2026 (9 150).

This information comes from the monthly asylum data published by Eurostat today.

Source dataset: migr_asyappctzm

Largest group of asylum seekers from Venezuela

In May 2026, Venezuelans continued to be the largest group of people seeking asylum in EU (4 465 first-time applicants), followed by Afghans (3 425), Bangladeshis (2 860) and Sudanese (1 690).

Italy, Spain, France and Germany received 75% of first-time applicants

Italy (10 660), Spain (7 945), France (7 180) and Germany (5 965) received the highest number of first-time asylum applicants, accounting for three-quarters of all first-time applicants in the EU.

There were 9.4 first-time asylum applicants per 100 000 people in the EU in May 2026. Compared with the population of each EU country (on 1 January 2026), the highest rates of first-time applicants were recorded in Greece (34.8), ahead of Italy (18.1) and Ireland (17.8).

945 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum

In May 2026, a total of 945 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum for the first time in the EU. The highest numbers of unaccompanied minors came from Somalia (205), Sudan (110), Afghanistan (95), Egypt (85) and Venezuela (40).

Source dataset: migr_asyumactm

The EU countries that received the highest number of asylum applications from unaccompanied minors were Germany (220), the Netherlands (195), Greece (135), France (80) and Spain (75).