Turkish asylum applications to EU reaches all-time high in 2023

The number of Turkish citizens who have apllied for asylum to the EU countries has reached an annual all-time high in the first nine months of 2023. Over 51,000 Turkish citizens applied for asylum to EU countries in this time period, according to a Eurostat study.

Friday November 03 2023 08:52 am

Duvar English

The number of Turkish citizens who have applied for asylum to European Union (EU) countries surpassed previous years’ numbers in the first nine months of 2023. More than 51,000 Turkish citizens sought asylum in the EU in this time period, according to a study by Eurostat, the statistical office of the union.

The previous record was from 2022 with over 48,000 Turkish applicants.

Germany was the most preferred country for asylum applications. Over 35,000 Turkish citizens (69% of the total immigrants) in 2023 applied for asylum in Germany. Asylum applications from Turkey to Germany saw record numbers, especially in the summer of 2023.

France, Switzerland, and Austria followed Germany as the most preferred countries for asylum.

The report displayed a continuous increase in the number of asylum seekers from Turkey through the years. However, the numbers have expanded significantly in recent years.

Between 2008 and 2015, the number of Turkish citizens seeking asylum in EU countries remained between 4,000 and 5,000. The number of asylum seekers increased rapidly after the July 15 coup attempt in 2016.

The number of asylum seekers exceeded 23,000 in 2019, before COVID-19. The year 2022 saw the previous record of asylum applications with 48,615 Turkish citizens.