Cyprus record high rate of asylum applicants

Cyprus had one of the highest asylum applications rates per 100,000 people in May, figures released by EuroStat showed on Tuesday as a five per cent decrease was recorded across the EU.

Cyprus had 29.9 applications for first-time asylum per 100,000 people.

The country with the highest total number of first time asylum applicants in May 2024 was Germany, which received 24 per cent of all those across the EU.

In the same month, the highest proportion was seen in Ireland (37.4 per 100,000) followed by Greece with 33.2, Spain at 31.7 and then Cyprus.

According to the report, in May 2024 there were 76,795 first-time applications, down from a year previously when there were 80,455 applications.

There were also 6,465 subsequent applicants this May, representing a 12 per cent increase compared with May 2023.

In May 2024, Syrians remained the largest group of people seeking asylum (11,460 first-time applicants). They were followed by Venezuelans (6,170) and Afghans (5,535).

In May 2024, a total of 2,565 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum for the first time in the EU, the largest number of them coming from Syria (790) and Afghanistan (390). Again, Germany received the highest number.