Belgium Records Highest Asylum Application Rate in the EU

Belgium is projected to face the highest relative pressure from asylum applications across the European Union in 2025, according to new estimates from Eurostat, the EU’s official statistics agency.

The country is expected to receive approximately 294 asylum seekers per 100,000 inhabitants, a rate 67% higher than the EU average of 176 per 100,000.

This figure places Belgium at the top of the EU in terms of asylum applications relative to its population, highlighting growing challenges in the country’s migration and asylum infrastructure.

The Eurostat data also reveals stark contrasts between EU member states. While Belgium’s projected figure stands at 294 applications per 100,000 people, Poland is expected to register just 46, Denmark 32, and Hungary only 1 application per 100,000.

Neighboring countries are forecast to face significantly lower asylum pressures. The Netherlands is projected to receive 117 applications per 100,000 people, Germany 169, and France, though relatively high, remains below Belgium with an estimated 230 per 100,000.