UK Asylum Statistics — 84,000 Applications a Year
Approximately 84,000 asylum applications are made in the UK each year. Watch applications, decisions and costs tick in real time from Home Office data.
103,000 asylum applications were made in the UK in 2023 — the highest annual total on record — according to the Home Office.
Approximately 57% of asylum decisions in 2023 resulted in a grant of protection (refugee status, humanitarian protection or leave to remain).
The asylum backlog stood at approximately 117,000 pending initial decisions at the end of 2023, down from a peak of 175,000 in mid-2023.
About These Statistics
Approximately 84,000 asylum applications are made in the UK each year, according to Home Office Asylum and Resettlement Statistics. The Home Office makes approximately 100,000 asylum decisions per year, of which approximately 65% result in an initial grant of some form of protection and approximately 35% in a refusal.
Asylum seekers are people who have left their home country and are formally asking for recognition as a refugee in the UK. They are not permitted to work while their claim is being processed and are provided with housing and a weekly allowance of approximately £49.18 per week (2024 rate). The cost of supporting asylum seekers is approximately £4.5 billion per year.
Accommodation for asylum seekers includes housing in the private rented sector managed by Home Office contractors, hotels used as contingency accommodation, and converted military sites and barges. Hotel use has been particularly controversial due to cost — approximately £8 million per day at its peak — and the government has sought to reduce reliance on hotels.
Small boat crossings of the English Channel have become a significant issue. In 2023, approximately 29,437 people crossed in small boats — a slight reduction from the peak of approximately 45,000 in 2022. Since 2018 over 100,000 people have made the crossing. The government has sought to deter crossings through the Rwanda policy and bilateral agreements with France.
The backlog of asylum cases awaiting an initial decision stood at over 100,000 at its peak, with some applicants waiting over three years for an outcome. The Home Office has recruited additional decision-makers and reformed processes to reduce the backlog. Reducing waiting times is important both for cost reduction and for the wellbeing of asylum seekers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on official UK government data
How many asylum seekers come to the UK?
103,000 asylum applications were made in the UK in 2023 — the highest annual total on record — according to the Home Office. The UK received a smaller share of European asylum claims than France, Germany or Spain.
How many asylum seekers are approved in the UK?
Approximately 57% of asylum decisions in 2023 resulted in a grant of protection — refugee status, humanitarian protection or leave to remain. The largest nationalities granted protection were Afghans, Iranians and Syrians.
How many asylum applications are made in the UK each year?
Approximately 84,000 asylum applications are made in the UK each year according to Home Office statistics for 2023/24. The Home Office makes approximately 100,000 decisions per year, granting some form of protection in approximately 65% of cases. The UK receives fewer asylum applications per capita than many comparable European countries including Germany and France.
How much does the UK asylum system cost?
The UK asylum system costs approximately £4.5 billion per year according to Home Office and HM Treasury figures. Hotel accommodation for asylum seekers costs approximately £4 billion annually, with nightly costs per person significantly higher than social housing alternatives. The government has invested in alternative accommodation including converted military sites to reduce hotel costs.
What happens when someone is granted asylum in the UK?
When an asylum seeker is granted refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK, they receive leave to remain for five years and can access mainstream benefits, employment and public services. After five years they can apply for settlement (indefinite leave to remain). They receive a 28-day move-on period from asylum support to arrange mainstream housing and benefits — a period critics argue is insufficient.
How many people cross the Channel in small boats each year?
Approximately 29,437 people crossed the English Channel in small boats in 2023, down from a peak of approximately 45,000 in 2022. Since 2018 over 100,000 people have made the crossing. Small boat arrivals make up a minority of overall asylum applications — most asylum seekers arrive via legal routes including airports and ports.
How does UK asylum compare to other European countries?
On a per capita basis, the UK receives fewer asylum applications than Germany, France and several other EU member states. Germany received approximately 351,000 first-time asylum applications in 2023 compared to the UK's 84,000. The UK's refusal rate is higher than many EU countries — approximately 35% of initial decisions are refusals, though many are later overturned on appeal.
What countries do most UK asylum seekers come from?
The largest groups of asylum seekers in the UK come from Afghanistan, Iran, Eritrea, Syria and Iraq. These are predominantly nationals fleeing conflict, persecution or serious human rights abuses. Nationals from these five countries account for a significant majority of asylum applications, and grant rates for applicants from these countries are among the highest.