a record 142,500 people requested asylum in France in 2023, an increase of 8.6%

Asylum requests increased by 8.6% in France in 2023 to reach the historic level of 142,500 potential refugees, the highest level ever recorded. “Among them, there are some 123,400 first asylum requests”, writes the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (Ofpra) in a press release published Tuesday January 23. This increase is, however, much less significant than those observed in Germany (+51%) and Spain (+37%), reports The world.

Afghanistan remains 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), the Democratic Republic of Congo (8,000) and the Republic of Guinea (7,000).

Guyana is the territory which has experienced the strongest development with nearly 5,200 first requests submitted (an increase of 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, a drop of 26%).