While fewer migrants entered the EU illegally last year, the migration crisis continues, with only a slight downturn in the number of asylum applications.
The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) published its figures for 2024, showing a slight overall decrease in asylum applications to the EU as well as emerging global migration patterns. Middle Eastern countries are still the primary countries of origin for applicants, but South American states could take their place in the future—if the current trends continue.
Compared to 2023, the annual report detailing last year records an 11% decrease in asylum applications submitted to EU+ countries (meaning EU member states, plus Switzerland and Norway), with the final problematic total still slightly above one million.
