Asylum Recognition Rates in the EU/EFTA by Country, 2008-2017

Figures shown here reflect the number of first-instance positive decisions made in each Member State and should not be taken as equivalent to the number of all positive decisions granted in the country. After initial rejection, asylum seekers can appeal negative decisions in most EU Member States. Positive decisions following the appeal are not included in the tool.

* Positive decisions include refugee protection, subsidiary protection, and humanitarian protection. Refugee status is defined in Article 1 of the Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of July 28, 1951, as amended by the New York Protocol of January 31, 1967. Subsidiary protection is defined in Article 2(g) of Directive 2011/95/EC, and is granted to a person who does not qualify for refugee status, but faces risk of serious harm upon return to the country of origin. Humanitarian status is granted under national law for persons who are not eligible for international protection as defined in Directive 2011/95/EC, but who are not removed because of ill health or because they are unaccompanied minors. The data tool includes only those humanitarian status recipients who have applied for international protection before receiving the humanitarian status.

** Kosovo = Its declaration of independence from Serbia has not been universally recognized.

Humanitarian protection decisions were not reported in any year during the 2008-2017 period by Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Portugal, or Slovenia. Additionally, between 2008 and 2013, humanitarian protection decisions were unreported by Austria and Lithuania, and between 2008 and 2012 in Estonia. Croatia joined the European Union in 2013, and did not report any values for asylum decisions between 2008 and 2011. It did not report any humanitarian protection decisions until 2014.

In 2015, Italy did not report data for total positive decisions or any subcategory from EU countries of origin. In 2013-2015, Italy did not report data for refugee, humanitarian, or subsidiary protection decisions from EU countries of origin. Similarly, in 2015, France did not report data for these subcategories for EU countries of origin. In 2008, neither Liechtenstein nor Cyprus reported data for any of these subcategories regardless of country of origin. And in 2013, Iceland did not report data for refugee or humanitarian protection decisions.