In the first half of 2024, asylum seekers were particularly young and an unusually large proportion were women. Among countries of origin, Syrians remain at the top, as shown by asylum statistics from the Ministry of the Interior.
In total, 13,479 asylum applications were submitted between January and June. That is 42 percent less than in the same period in 2023. Historically, however, the numbers are not particularly low; in the whole of 2019, only just under 12,900 applications were submitted. What has kept the numbers high is family reunification. Well over every second application (54 percent) came from a person under the age of 18; the largest age group is between zero and seven years old. In addition, an unusually large number of applicants this time were women, namely 46 percent.
Compared to 2022, asylum applications have decreased.
More applications were rejected than approved
Among the countries of origin, people from Syria predominate (8,400), followed by Afghans (1,400). According to asylum statistics, 19,079 procedures were rejected or terminated in the first half of the year, and another 1,499 people voluntarily renounced protection and left Austria during their procedure. People from Morocco, Georgia and India had virtually no chance of asylum in June.
In the same period, 14,772 residence permits were granted and in 9,931 cases asylum was granted. The rest is divided between subsidiary protection and humanitarian residence permits. People from Iran, Syria and Afghanistan as well as stateless persons currently have good chances of asylum.
Numbers in Europe fall slightly
In Europe, there were almost as many applications in the first half of 2024 as in the previous year. Greece (77 percent) and Italy (32 percent) recorded a strong increase. Extrapolated by population, Austria ranks seventh in the statistics.
Although the figures are not particularly low by historical standards, the Interior Ministry is pleased with the decrease compared to the previous year. The density of controls means that smugglers can bypass Austria on a large scale, said Michael Takacs, director of the Federal Police. “The prices for people smuggling via or to Austria have almost doubled in recent months. “The criminals charge between 3,000 and 5,000 euros for one person for a tow with departure in Bulgaria or Turkey,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
Karner: Curbing illegal migration
“The goal must be to reduce illegal migration to zero,” Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) stressed. In Vienna, the main destination for migrants, social benefits should be cut and access from the federal states should be stopped, the Vienna People’s Party said in a press release.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
