Albanian asylum seekers in the EU and EFTA throughout the years, based on the destination, age group and types of court verdicts

Open Data Albania is examining the data concerning Albanians seeking asylum in European Union and EFTA countries. The statistics for EU asylum seekers do not include UK asylum requests, having already left the Union. Asylum seeker is any third-country national or stateless person, who has submitted an application for international protection or has been included in such an application as a family member during a period of reference.

In 2022, 10,650 Albanians have sought asylum in EU countries, making up 1.8% of the total number of asylum seekers in the EU.

It was 2015 the year that marked the highest number of requests for asylum from Albanians in the EU, namely 64 155 Albanians or 5.3% of the total number of asylum seekers in the EU.

Source: EUROSTAT
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

The data show that 21% more Albanians sought asylum in one of the EU countries in 2022, compared to 2021.

Source: EUROSTAT
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

More than half of the Albanian asylum seekers in 2022 who sought asylum in EU countries, were aiming to obtain asylum in France (54%). Followed by Germany (16%), Italy (12%), Greece (8%).

Source: EUROSTAT
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

In the period 2014-2022, almost half of Albanian asylum seekers in EU countries applied in Germany (47.4%). Followed by France (29.3%), Greece (7.6%), Sweden (3.9%).

Source: EUROSTAT
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Albanian asylum seekers in the EU countries had France as their main destination in the years 2012-2013 and 2017-2022, whereas in the 2014-2016 years it was Germany.

Table: Number of Albanian applications for Asylum for each EU country, 2012-2022
Source: EUROSTAT
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Albanians who have sought asylum in the EFTA countries (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland) are much fewer in number. In 2022, 75 people have sought asylum in these countries (Iceland has yet to publish figures).

Source: EUROSTAT
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Judicial verdicts for Albanian asylum seekers in EU countries:

Verdicts taken by EU countries are either rejection of asylum seeker status or a positive verdict. In the case of positive verdict, the following are included: Supplementary (economic) protection status – persons who have been granted supplementary (economic) assistance as a final verdict by administrative or judicial bodies; Humanitarian Status – persons who have received authorization to stay in a certain country for humanitarian reasons, based on the national laws of each country; Geneva Convention status (refugees) – persons who are recognized as refugees because they meet the following criteria: they have left their country, they have reason to fear persecution and they are unable to seek protection from their own country. The grounds for asylum status based on discrimination suffered are extended based on any of the following: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group.

In 2021, 405 positive decisions have been made for Albanian citizens seeking asylum, of which 245 people have benefited from Humanitarian status, 115 from complementary protection (economic) status and 50 from Geneva Convention status. *Note: Eurostat applies approximation to the nearest 5.

Higher approvals of asylum seekers were recorded in 2018, a year in which 855 citizens of Albanian origin benefited. The acceptance rate (positive response) during last year was lower than in 2021, the only reason being that the number of decisions taken by the Courts was higher in 2018. About 15% of the final court decisions were positive for Albanian asylum seekers in the year 2021.

Source: EUROSTAT
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Until 2018, the majority of Albanian applicants for asylum granted a positive verdict have benefited from the status of supplementary (economic) protection, whereas, after this year, the majority have benefited from the humanitarian status.

Source: EUROSTAT
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Over 74% of Albanian asylum seekers in the EU after 2014 were people up to 34 years old. One third of Albanian asylum seekers in the EU are minors under the age of 18. Accordingly, 33% of asylum seekers during the 2014-2022 period, in the EU, were minors.

Source: EUROSTAT
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Source: EUROSTAT
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Minors, under 18 years of age, have the lowest acceptance rate as asylum seekers in EU countries, compared to other age groups, during the 2014-2021 years. The highest acceptance rates for each age group were recorded in 2021, where 11% of final decisions for Albanian asylum seekers under 18 years old were positive, for asylum seekers 18-34 years old 17% of decisions and 16% for Albanian asylum seekers over 35 years old.

Source: EUROSTAT
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Source: EUROSTAT
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Overall, from 2012 to 2021, a number of 2,050 unaccompanied minors applied for asylum in EU countries, of which 1,820 were boys (89%) and 230 were girls (11%). Compared to the total number of asylum seekers under 18, unaccompanied minors make up about 3%.

Download excel: Albanian asylum seekers in the EU and EFTA throughout the years, based on the destination, age group and types of court verdicts
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania
Contributed by: Ilir Brasha
Translated by: Rezarta Cushaj