Record number of Bangladeshis seek asylum in Europe in 2024

The information was revealed in a report published on Monday (March 3) by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA).

According to the statistics, approximately 43,236 Bangladeshi nationals applied for asylum in EU+ countries (EU member states plus Norway and Switzerland) in 2024, making Bangladesh the sixth-largest source of asylum seekers in the region.

The EUAA reported that from January to June 2024, 23,003 Bangladeshis applied for asylum in European countries, while an additional 20,233 applications were submitted from July to December. In 2023, around 40,332 Bangladeshis sought asylum in Europe, marking a 7.2% increase in applications in 2024.

Italy received the highest number of asylum applications from Bangladeshis, accounting for nearly 77% of all applications from Bangladesh in the EU+ region. In 2024, 33,455 Bangladeshis applied for asylum in Italy, compared to 23,448 in 2023. France and Ireland were the second and third most popular destinations for Bangladeshi asylum seekers, with 6,429 and 1,006 applications, respectively.

The EUAA data also revealed that 47,778 asylum applications from Bangladeshis were pending resolution in 2024. During the same period, 1,989 Bangladeshis withdrew their applications. The recognition rate for Bangladeshi asylum applications was approximately 3.9%.

Among South Asian countries, Afghanistan topped the list with 87,382 citizens applying for asylum in EU+ countries in 2024. Pakistan ranked third in the region, with 23,240 citizens seeking asylum in Europe.

The EUAA noted that nearly half (48%) of all asylum applications in 2024 were for citizenship, with a recognition rate of less than 20%. This group included citizens from Bangladesh, Morocco, and Tunisia.