In August 2025, 51 465 first-time asylum applicants (non-EU citizens) applied for international protection in EU countries, marking a 27% decrease compared with August 2024 (70 290) and a 7% decrease compared with July 2025 (55 390). 

There were also 13 780 subsequent applicants, representing a 117% increase compared with August 2024 (6 345) and a 20% rise compared with July 2025 (11 505).

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

First-time and subsequent asylum applicants in the EU, January 2021 - August 2025 (number of applicants). Chart. See link to the full dataset below.

Source dataset: migr_asyappctzm

Largest group of asylum seekers from Afghanistan

In August 2025, Afghans were the largest group of people seeking asylum (5 260 first-time applicants), followed by Venezuelans (5 180), Syrians (2 825) and Bangladeshis (2 785).

France, Italy, Spain and Germany received 68% of first-time applicants

France (9 735), Italy (9 075), Spain (8 470) and Germany (7 800) received the highest number of first-time asylum applicants, accounting for 68% of all first-time applicants in the EU.

There were 11.4 first-time asylum applicants per hundred thousand people in the EU in August 2025. Compared with the population of each EU country (on 1 January 2025), the highest rates of first-time applicants were recorded in Greece (65.2), ahead of Cyprus (23.9) and Belgium (20.2).

1 840 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum

In August 2025, a total of 1 840 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum for the first time in the EU. The highest numbers of unaccompanied minors came from Egypt (385), Afghanistan (200), Somalia (195) and Eritrea (190). 

Unaccompanied minors in the EU, August 2025 (number of applicants applying for asylum for the first time). Chart. See link to the full dataset below.

Source dataset: migr_asyumactm

The EU countries that received the highest number of asylum applications from unaccompanied minors were Greece (515), the Netherlands (335) and Germany (240).