The UK has seen a significant increase in asylum claims, reaching its highest level on record, with a total of 111,084 people seeking protection. This represents an 8% rise from the previous peak in 2002 and a 14% increase compared to the year ending June 2024. The majority of these claimants arrived through irregular routes, including small boats.
The top five nationalities claiming asylum in the UK are Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Eritrea, and Bangladesh, accounting for over a third (37%) of all claims. Afghan nationals have seen a substantial rise in claims following the Taliban’s capture of Kabul in August 2021. Albanian claims have declined since the introduction of restrictions aimed at accelerating the return of Albanian nationals with no right to remain.
The UK received a tenth of all asylum seekers across the UK and EU+ combined, with 109,343 people claiming asylum in the year ending March 2025. This ranks the country as the fifth largest recipient of asylum seekers among European countries when measured ‘per head of population’.
In comparison, Germany received the most asylum seekers (218,550), followed by Spain (164,830) and France (159,260). The number of people claiming asylum in the UK has increased across all main visa routes over the last three years, reflecting a strong growth in work and study visas.
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-system-statistics-year-ending-june-2025/how-many-people-claim-asylum-in-the-uk