Mathew Amaechi
The United Kingdom received a record 108,138 asylum applications in 2024, marking an 18% increase from the previous year and surpassing the previous peak of 103,081 in 2002 . This surge in asylum claims has put a significant strain on the UK’s immigration system.
The majority of asylum seekers came from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran, accounting for 25% of all applications. Pakistani nationals, in particular, saw a significant increase in asylum claims, with a 79% rise to 10,542 applications.
The UK’s asylum system has been facing significant challenges, with a backlog of cases awaiting initial decisions. As of June 2024, there were 85,839 cases pending, although this represents a 36% decrease from the previous year.
The UK government has been working to address the backlog and improve the efficiency of the asylum system. The Nationality and Borders Act 2022 has introduced changes to the asylum process, including the Streamlined Asylum Process, which aims to accelerate decision-making for manifestly well-founded claims.
The record number of asylum applications in 2024 highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the UK’s immigration system. As the government continues to work on addressing the backlog and improving the asylum process, it remains to be seen how these efforts will impact the number of asylum applications in the coming years.