a record 142,500 people requested asylum in France in 2023, an increase of 8%

Asylum applications increased by 8% in France in 2023 to reach the historic level of 142,500 applicants, the highest ever recorded, the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Ofpra) announced on Tuesday January 23. “Among them, there are some 123,400 first asylum requests”, wrote the body responsible for granting refugee status in a press release. This increase is, however, much less significant than those observed in Germany (+51%) and Spain (+37%), reports The world.

Afghanistan remained, for the sixth consecutive year, the leading country of origin for asylum seekers, with more than 17,500 first applications submitted, followed by Bangladesh (8,600), Turkey (8,500), Democratic Republic of Congo (8,000) and the Republic of Guinea (7,000).

Overseas, Guyana is the territory which has seen the strongest growth with nearly 5,200 first requests submitted (i.e. +102%), giving pride of place to Haitians (28% of first requests), Syrians (21% ) and Afghans (19%). On the other hand, in Mayotte, the level of demand has decreased significantly (some 2,650 first requests, or -26%).