Brussels: Europe and the Arabs

Official figures released by Eurostat, the European statistical office in Brussels, indicate that in May 2026, 42,525 first-time asylum seekers (non-EU citizens) applied for international protection in EU countries. This represents a 22% decrease compared to May 2025 (54,765) and a 2% decrease compared to April 2026 (43,360).

In the same month, 8,050 subsequent applicants applied. Compared to May 2025 (8,075), this figure remained almost unchanged; however, it was 12% lower than in April 2026 (9,150).

Largest group of asylum seekers from Venezuela

In May 2026, Venezuelans continued to be the largest group of asylum seekers in the European Union (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 asylum seekers.

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

The rate of first-time asylum seekers in the EU was 9.4 per 100,000 inhabitants in May 2026. Compared to the population of each EU member state (as of January 1, 2026), the highest rates of first-time asylum seekers were recorded in Greece (34.8), followed by Italy (18.1) and Ireland (17.8).

945 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum.

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

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).