Between January and September 2026, 452,969 asylum applications were registered across the European Union, Norway, and Switzerland, representing a 24.3% decrease compared to the same period in the previous year. This was reported by DW and Süddeutsche Zeitung, citing EUAA figures obtained by Welt am Sonntag.
- During the first nine months of 2026, 452,969 applications were recorded, compared to 598,575 a year earlier.
- France and Italy received the highest number of claims; Germany ranked third with 70,257 applications.
- According to news reports, the figures stem from an unpublished European Commission situation report covering the EU, Norway, and Switzerland.
Figures Reported by the Outlets
DW reports statistics for the first nine months of 2026. During the comparable period in 2025, total asylum applications stood at 598,575. These figures refer strictly to formal claims for international protection.
According to Süddeutsche Zeitung, citing Welt am Sonntag, the data from the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) is contained in a confidential European Commission migration situation report dated October 1, 2026.
Breakdown by Destination Countries
According to data cited by DW, France ranked first among recipient countries, followed by Italy in second place and Germany in third. For the first nine months of the year, the report lists the following figures:
| Country | Asylum Applications |
|---|---|
| France | 98,822 |
| Italy | 78,496 |
| Germany | 70,257 |
The lowest numbers of applications, according to DW, were recorded in Malta (294), Slovakia (131), and Hungary (83).
Countries of Origin
According to DW, among asylum seekers in Germany from January to September, individuals from Afghanistan accounted for 23%, Syria 12%, and Turkey 10%.
Across the EU, Norway, and Switzerland as a whole, the largest groups of applicants originated from Afghanistan (52,361), Venezuela (37,294), and Bangladesh (26,497).
DW also reported 12,182 applications lodged by nationals of Ukraine. According to the published data, 49% of Ukrainian asylum claims were filed in France and 5% in Germany. The number of applications filed by Russian citizens totalled 6,420.