Germany Sees Significant Drop in Asylum Applications in First Half of 2026

Germany experienced a substantial decrease in asylum applications during the first half of 2026, with 51,147 applications submitted, marking a 27% decline compared to 70,000 in the same period last year. This decline has pushed Germany down to fourth place among EU+ countries in asylum application rankings, behind France (65,538), Italy (63,985), and Spain (53,888).

The majority of asylum seekers in Germany originated from Afghanistan, who accounted for 37% of all applications. Other notable countries of origin included Turkey and Syria, each contributing 9% of applications. Across the EU+ countries, which include Norway and Switzerland, the total number of asylum applications was 321,627 from January to June 2026, representing a 19.3% decrease from 399,000 applications in the first half of 2025.

This information is derived from a confidential report by the European Union Asylum Agency (EUAA) detailed in the "Integration Situation Awareness and Analysis" (ISAA, Report No. 533) dated July 2, 2026. The report highlights not only the drop in applications in Germany but also notes that Hungary, Slovakia, and Lithuania recorded the lowest numbers, with Lithuania’s well-guarded fence effectively reducing migrant crossings from Belarus.

While asylum numbers are declining, the EUAA emphasizes monitoring instability in the Middle East and North Africa, as ongoing humanitarian crises like that in Afghanistan persist. Notably, the Greek island of Crete is witnessing an uptick in arrivals from Sudan and Bangladesh.

These trends reflect shifting migration patterns within Europe and underscore the evolving challenges for German and EU immigration policies in 2026.