Brussels: The number of asylum applications registered across the European Union, Norway, and Switzerland decreased by 11% in 2024 but remained above the one-million mark for a second consecutive year, according to the annual report released by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) on Monday morning.

According to Emirates News Agency, overall, 1,014,420 requests for international protection were filed last year, compared to the 1,143,437 requests recorded in 2023. Regarding destination countries, Germany remained clearly at the top with over 237,000 applications in 2024. The tally, though, represents a 29% drop compared to 2023.

Germany was followed by Spain, with 165,767 requests, Italy with 158,867, France with 158,730, Greece with 73,688, Belgium with 39,206, and the Netherlands with 33,437 as main destinations. Cyprus saw the largest number of asylum claims per capita, with one for every 138 residents.