First asylum applications in Germany fell sharply year-on-year

Germany recorded a significant decline in the number of first-time asylum applications at the beginning of 2026. According to data from the Federal Ministry of the Interior reported by Bild, 7,649 people submitted their first asylum application in January this year, which is 48.7 percent less than in January last year (14,920).

The first application concerns persons who have never undergone asylum proceedings in Germany.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) described the development as confirmation of the effectiveness of the measures taken. According to him, the figures show that "the turnaround in migration is continuing" and that control over migration is gradually being restored.

The decline is also confirmed by broader data from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees. In 2025, 113,236 first-time asylum applications were filed, representing a year-on-year decline of more than 50 percent. The total number of applications, including follow-up applications, reached 168,543, almost a third less than in 2024.

However, the CDU/CSU warns against premature euphoria and calls for strict border controls to continue. These are currently in place at all land borders until at least March 2026.

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