Europe asylum applications hit five-year low as German protection rates rise

asylum applications protection rate migration policy BAMF EU asylum pact

Asylum applications in Europe reached a five-year low in the first half of 2026, with the European Union, Switzerland, and Norway processing approximately 332,000 claims—a 17 percent decrease from 2025. Despite regional tensions in the Middle East, the decline is attributed to changing conditions in key countries of origin and new legal frameworks, such as the Pact on Migration and Asylum which went live on June 12.

In Germany, while the total number of new asylum seekers is decreasing, the adjusted protection rate has risen to 47.4 percent, up from 37.5 percent in 2025. This increase is driven significantly by family protection, which accounted for 45.6 percent of positive decisions in the first half of 2026, and a 2024 European Court of Justice ruling regarding the protection of women from Afghanistan. Afghan nationals remain the primary group of asylum applicants in Germany, with an adjusted protection rate of 89.3 percent. Other notable protection rates include 42.2 percent for applicants from Iran.

Across Europe, France and Italy recorded the highest volumes of asylum requests, while Greece faced the highest burden relative to its population size.

Entities

Afghanistan · European Court of Justice · European Union Agency for Asylum · Federal Office for Migration and Refugees · Germany · Iran · Taliban

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 17 SOURCES] The adjusted protection rate in the full year of 2025 was 37.5 percent. courage-lounge.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.zeit.de · wochentlich.de · +8 more
[● 17 SOURCES] The adjusted protection rate for asylum seekers from Afghanistan was 89.3 percent in the first half of 2026. courage-lounge.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.zeit.de · wochentlich.de · +8 more
[● 17 SOURCES] The adjusted protection rate for asylum seekers in Germany was 47.4 percent in the first half of 2026. courage-lounge.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.zeit.de · wochentlich.de · +8 more
[● 17 SOURCES] Family protection was the basis for granting protection status in 21,195 cases during the first half of 2026. courage-lounge.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.zeit.de · wochentlich.de · +8 more
[● 17 SOURCES] The adjusted protection rate for asylum seekers from Iran was 42.2 percent in the first half of 2026. courage-lounge.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.zeit.de · wochentlich.de · +8 more
[● 17 SOURCES] Afghanistan was the primary country of origin for asylum applicants in Germany during the first half of 2026. courage-lounge.de · www.leinetal24.de · www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.zeit.de · wochentlich.de · +8 more
[● 2 SOURCES] EU asylum applications fell by 17 percent in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. www.dagens.com · dagens.de