Berlin Sees Significant Drop in Asylum Seekers
Germany has witnessed a substantial decrease in the number of individuals seeking asylum within its borders during 2025. This decline, according to the German Interior Ministry, reflects the impact of recent shifts in the nation’s immigration policies.
Initial asylum applications plummeted by 51% in 2025 compared to 2024, and by 66% compared to 2023. Furthermore, the ministry reported a nearly 20% increase in deportations carried out last year compared to the previous year.
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt attributed the decline primarily to the government’s stricter immigration policies, asserting that these measures are now yielding tangible results. He emphasized the government’s commitment to maintaining secure borders and a fair immigration system.
Decline in Numbers Detailed
Official figures reveal that initial asylum applications in Germany decreased by over 116,000 in 2025, totaling 113,236 applications. This is a significant drop from the 229,751 applications received in 2024 and the 329,120 applications in 2023.
The Federal Office for Migration and Refugees recorded 722,370 asylum applications in 2016, coinciding with the peak of the Syrian civil war. During that period, the protection rate, or the percentage of applicants granted asylum, exceeded 60%.
In subsequent years, application numbers decreased, reaching 102,581 in 2020 before experiencing a temporary resurgence.
Factors Contributing to the Decline
The Interior Ministry cites several factors contributing to the decreased numbers, including enhanced border controls implemented gradually beginning in October 2023 under former Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, and subsequently intensified under Minister Dobrindt. The fall of the Assad regime in Syria in late 2024 also contributed significantly.
Additionally, stricter immigration policies in Italy have played a role in redirecting migration flows.
