Fewer and fewer asylum applications in Germany
The downward trend has been continuing for months. In July 2025, the number of initial applications was already 8,293 and 5,366 subsequent applications. This corresponds to a total number of 13,659 applications. While a total of 18,503 applications were still submitted in July 2024.
A total of 86,916 asylum applications were recorded for the first seven months of 2025, of which 70,011 were first-time applications and 16,905 were second-time applications. In comparison: In 2024, the total number in the first seven months was almost twice as many - 153,361 applications.
Rejections at German borders on the rise
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) sees this decline as a success of his migration policy. "Our asylum turnaround is working, our measures are successful," he told the Bild newspaper.
One of the main reasons for the decline in asylum numbers is the increased border controls. Shortly after taking office in May, Dobrindt ordered asylum seekers to be turned back at all German borders - with the exception of vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women.
According to the Federal Police, 9,506 rejections were registered between May 8 and the end of July. According to Dobrindt, a total of around 12,000 illegal entries have been prevented so far. However, the rejections are controversial with regard to EU law and have been repeatedly criticized by migration experts and NGOs.
EU asylum law is also to be tightened
Dobrindt, on the other hand, emphasized the need to further tighten the European asylum system in order to reduce migration pressure on Germany and Europe. It was only on Wednesday (03.09.) that the Federal Cabinet passed a corresponding bill to tighten EU asylum law.
However, experts point out that the decline in asylum applications is influenced by various factors. These include political developments in the countries of origin, border controls and international agreements.
According to the report, one reason for the current decline could also be the changed situation in the countries of origin: After many years, Afghanistan is once again at the top of the list of asylum applications in Germany, while the number of Syrian asylum seekers is declining following the fall of the Assad regime.
