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Cyprus experienced a sharp reduction in first-time asylum applications in May 2024, marking an over 80% decrease from the previous month, according to data released by Eurostat. With 29.9 applications per 100,000 people, Cyprus had one of the highest rates of asylum applications in the European Union, although this still represented a substantial drop from earlier figures.
Across the EU, the number of first-time asylum seekers in May was 76,795, a 5% decrease compared to May 2023. Cyprus’s decline was the most pronounced among EU member states, indicating a significant shift in the island nation’s asylum landscape.
Germany continued to lead the EU in receiving asylum applications, accounting for 24% of the total, with Syrians being the largest group of applicants. While Cyprus saw a reduction in overall asylum applications, it still recorded 35 applications from unaccompanied minors in May, down from 125 in March and 160 in April.
The total number of pending asylum applications in Cyprus stood at 29,920 in May 2024. This data highlights the ongoing pressures faced by Cyprus, even as new applications have sharply declined.
[With information from CNA]
