Initial asylum applications in Germany
Initial asylum applications in Germany stood at 113,236 persons in 2025, according to Statistisches Bundesamt (Destatis) and Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (BAMF). It is one of the indicators in the International migration table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 1995 to 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the International migration table
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total asylum applications | 168,543 | 250,945 | 351,915 | 244,132 | 190,816 | 122,170 | 165,938 | 185,853 | 222,683 | 745,545 | |
| Initial applications | 113,236 | 229,751 | 329,120 | 217,774 | 148,233 | 102,581 | 142,509 | 161,931 | 198,317 | 722,370 | |
| Subsequent applications and further information | 55,307 | 21,194 | 22,795 | 26,358 | 42,583 | 19,589 | 23,429 | 23,922 | 24,366 | 23,175 |
Understanding initial asylum applications in Germany
First-time petitions for international protection filed by individuals who have not previously lodged an asylum claim in Germany form the basis of this initial applications series. The scope covers newly arrived protection seekers presenting an application for the first time, as well as first applications submitted on behalf of children born in Germany whose parents are asylum applicants. It excludes repeat requests filed after an earlier case concluded, general non-asylum visa applications, and routine municipal registrations. Within the asylum sub-table, this row isolates genuine first-time claims from subsequent applications, representing the primary component of total asylum demand.
Distinguishing between the date of border crossing and the formal administrative lodging of a claim is necessary when analyzing this first-time application series. When reception facilities experience high intake volumes, an interval often elapses between initial arrival and the official registration of the claim, which can shift recorded applications into a later reporting period. Year-on-year comparisons provide the most informative assessment of new international protection demand, closely mirroring emerging geopolitical crises. Analysts should avoid assuming all initial applicants represent immediate border arrivals, and should note that application numbers do not indicate how many cases ultimately receive positive protection decisions.
Frequently asked questions
- What defines an initial asylum application compared to a subsequent application?
- An initial application represents an individual's first formal request for protection in Germany, whereas subsequent applications are repeat claims filed after an earlier proceeding concluded.
- Are infants born in Germany counted under initial applications?
- Yes, if a child born in Germany has an asylum petition lodged on their behalf, it is classified as an initial application.
- Does every initial application correspond to a new arrival during that same year?
- Not necessarily, because administrative processing intervals can mean an individual who arrived late in one year formally registers their claim the following year.