Three quarters of the year has passed and there are signs of a sharp decline in asylum applications for the whole of 2024. 18,816 applications have been submitted through September. That is more than 25,000 fewer than in the first nine months of 2023, which corresponds to a decrease of 57 percent.
This is a much steeper decline than in Europe as a whole, where figures only fell by eight percent. In Austria, the decline has increased in recent months. In September this was 78 percent, the highest value in 2024.
Recently, almost two-thirds of asylum seekers were men. In the spring the ratio between the sexes was still almost equal. The main reason for this development is that family reunification has returned to a normal level. While there were almost 1,300 entries under this title in March, there were only 180 in September.
Especially Ukrainians in the front line
As numbers decrease, the need for places in primary care also decreases. At the beginning of October, 71,900 people were cared for here. Last year there were almost 93,000. 52 percent of those receiving basic care come from Ukraine. The second strongest country is the Syrians with 24 percent.
Citizens of this country also dominate the asylum statistics. The nearly 11,000 applications from Syrians this year are more than five times as many as the number of applications from Afghans, who represent the second largest group of asylum seekers.
Syrians and Iranians in particular have good opportunities
Although the number of asylum seekers is decreasing this year, Austria has taken in a very large number of refugees over the past decade. Since 2015, approximately 215,000 people have received protection. This year, 13,900 asylum applications were approved. In addition, subsidiary protection was granted in 6,038 cases and 1,076 humanitarian residence permits were issued. Syrians and Iranians had particularly good chances of asylum, with recognition rates of more than 70 percent.
Of the 9,983 deportations carried out by the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum at the end of September, 51 percent were forced. About 45 percent of people involved in deportations have criminal convictions. 903 of the deportations were Dublin cases, i.e. asylum seekers whose applications another EU state is responsible – of which 190 were Syrians, 85 Algerians and 80 Russian nationals.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
