ICAR

Numbers

How many people apply for asylum in the UK?

In 2009 the number of people seeking asylum in the UK was 24,250 (provisional figures).

How many asylum seekers are successful?

The numbers of asylum seekers granted settlement (indefinite leave to remain) between 1994 and 2005, excluding and including dependants granted settlement at the same time as the principal applicant, are shown in the chart below. The figures include 'cases reconsidered' but do not include those granted asylum at the appeal stages of the asylum process. Consequently the figures should not be regarded as ‘absolutes’ for any given year. More information on this can be found in the next section below.

Table 1: applications and decisions 1998 - 2005

	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
asylum applications received	46,015	71,160	80,315	71,025	84,130	49,405	33,960	25,710
initial decisions made during year	31,570	33,720	109,205	120,950	83,540	64,940	46,020	27,395
total number of decisions made during year	31,570	33,720	96,400	124,205	85,575	67,740	50,360	29,885
applicants granted asylum (including reconsidered cases)	5,345	7,815	10,595	13,490	10,255	4,300	2,085	2,225
applicants granted asylum (excluding reconsidered cases)	5,345	7,815	10,375	11,450	8,270	3,865	1,565	1,940
applicants granted ELR, DL or HP (all awards)	3,910	2,465	11,420	21,600	21,015	7,550	4,205	2,930
applicants granted: ELR, DL or HP (excluding some awards)	3,910	2,465	11,495	20,190	20,135	7,210	3,995	2,800
applicants receiving decisions that year granted: asylum(all awards)	17%	36%	13%	11%	12%	6%	4%	7%
applicants receiving decisions that year granted: ELR, DL or HP(all awards)	12%	12%	13%	17%	25%	11%	8%	10%
overall percentage granted refugee status, ELR, DL or HP	29%	48%	26%	28%	37%	17%	12%	17%
applicants refused asylum, ELR, DL or HP	22,315 (71%)	11,025 (52%)	62,720 (74%)	89,115 (72%)	54,305 (63%)	55,890 (83%)	44,070 (88%)	24,730 (83%)
number of appeals against refusal	14,320	6,615	46,190	74,365	51,695	46,130	35,110	4,935

 

Sources: Tables 1.1, 1.2 and 7.1 in Heath, T., R. Jeffries, and J. Purcell (2004) Asylum statistics: United Kingdom 2003, 11/04, 24 August 2004. London: Home Office; Heath, T., R. Jeffries, and J. Purcell (2005) Asylum statistics: United Kingdom 2004, 13/05, 23 August 2005. London: Home Office; Heath, T., R. Jeffries and S. Pearce (2006)Asylum Statistics: United Kingdom 2005, 14/06, 22 August 2006. London: Home Office.

 

Due to the length of time that it takes to process asylum applications, the yearly statistics on outcomes (i.e. grants or refusals) refer to applications that were made in different years. For example, an individual may apply for asylum in one calendar year and then be granted asylum, or have their application refused, in another.

In order to overcome the problem of relating asylum outcomes to specific cohorts of applicants when seeking to obtain a clear percentage of those granted some form of status and those rejected, the Home Office has published estimates of the outcomes of the applications made from 2001-2005. The estimates include the effect of the outcomes of appeals at the Immigration Appellate Authority as well as initial decisions and cases reconsidered by the Home Office.

An estimated breakdown is provided of cases with appeals allowed into those cases resulting in grants of refugee status (indefinite leave to remain) and those cases granted ELR, humanitarian protection (HP) or discretionary leave (DL). Comparable figures are not available for those cases that were successful after appeal to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal or higher courts, but the Home Office states that because a very small proportion is involved, the final estimates they publish are unlikely to be substantially affected.

• Home Office estimates suggest that of those 71,025 people that applied for asylum in 2001, around 58% are likely to have been refused asylum, or other forms of leave to remain, or have withdrawn their application; 20% are likely to have been granted asylum (ILR); and 22% are likely to have been granted ELR, HP or DL. 

• Of the 84,130 applicants for asylum in 2002, the Home Office estimates that 60% are likely to have been refused asylum, or other forms of leave to remain, or have withdrawn their application; 19% are likely to have been granted asylum (ILR); and 21% are likely to have been granted ELR, HP or DL.

• Of the 49,405 applicants for asylum in 2003, the Home Office estimates that 72% are likely to have been refused asylum, or other forms of leave to remain, or have withdrawn their application; 16% are likely to have been granted asylum (ILR); and 12% are likely to have been granted ELR, HP or DL. Home Office figures from August 2004 also state that 23,900 asylum cases were still awaiting an initial decision at the end of 2003.

• Of the 33,960 applicants for asylum in 2004, the Home Office estimates that 76% are likely to have been refused asylum, or other forms of leave to remain, or have withdrawn their application; 13% are likely to have been granted asylum (ILR); and 12% are likely to have been granted ELR, HP or DL.

• Of the 25,710 applicants for asylum in 2005, the Home Office estimates that 70% will result in refusals, or other forms of leave to remain, or have withdrawn their application;18% will result in grants of asylum (ILR); and 12% will result in grants of ELR, HP or DL. Home Office figures from August 2006 also state that 5,500 asylum cases were still awaiting an initial decision at the end of 2005, and that this has fallen further during the first two quarters of 2006.

 What affects the numbers?

The level of applications for asylum in any period is largely determined by events in other parts of the world and is therefore likely to fluctuate from year to year. See also section on 'Why do people seek asylum?'and 'In the News' on asylum numbers.

 Where can I get accurate statistics?

The annual and quarterly statistical bulletins, published by the Immigration Research and Statistics Service within the Home Office, provide a range of statistical data relating to asylum applications, initial decisions and appeals, and related issues such as asylum support, detention and removals.

 Do the yearly figures relate to the same group of individuals?

Not necessarily. An individual may apply for asylum in one calendar year and then be granted asylum or have their application refused in another. The figures therefore relate to events of a given type within a particular period - for example, asylum applications or the granting of asylum in a calendar year - rather than decisions relating to particular individuals.

The Home Office has however begun to provide estimated outcomes for the same group or 'cohort' of people (i.e. all applications made within the same year) and these figures include the outcome of successful appeals. Of the 25,710 applications made in 2005 it has been estimated that 18% of applications that year have been granted asylum, 12% granted humanitarian protection or discretionary leave and 70% refused all forms of status, (these figures include the outcomes of appeals).

Does Britain take more refugees than other countries?

At the end of 2004, according to figures estimated by UNHCR (based on recent arrivals and recognition of asylum seekers) Britain hosted 289,054 refugees, about 3.1% of the world's 9.2 million and 0.4% of the British population. At the same time Germany hosted 876,622 (1% of the population), France 139,852 (0.2% of the population), Ireland 7,201 (0.1% of the population) and the USA 420,854 (0.1% of the population).

How many refugees are there in the UK?

It is impossible to provide an accurate figure for the number of refugees in the UK because there is no record of those with refugee status or other forms of protection who subsequently leave the country. Also the settlement figures for dependents only include those who are granted settlement at the same time as the principal applicant. Figures for the number of dependant refugees joining those granted settlement afterwards through family reunion channels are not available.

However, UNHCR have estimated the number of refugee population based on recent arrivals and recognition of asylum seekers. At the end of 2004 it estimates the refugee population of the UK at: 289.054.

How many 'failed' asylum seekers are there in the UK?

The National Audit Office (NAO) recently investigated the likely number of failed asylum seekers remaining in the UK. In its report it estimates that at the end of May 2004 between 155,000 and 283,500 potentially removable failed asylum applicants may have remained in the United Kingdom.

How many 'failed' asylum seekers are subsequently removed from the UK?

The number of removals of failed asylum seekers has steadily increased since the mid 1990s. In 1995 only 3,170 principle applicants were removed from the UK, but by 2003 the figure had risen to 13,005. The total figure for people removed in 2003 is 17, 895 as it also includes dependent applicants (figures for dependent applicants were only collected from 2001onwards).In 2004 the number including dependents dropped to 14,905, representing a 17% reduction since 2003.

The NAO investigation found that in the ten years prior to May 2004 a maximum of 363,000 applications for asylum were unsuccessful. Over the same period the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) reported that it had removed 79,500 failed asylum applicants.

Some of the 283,500 applicants initially recorded as unsuccessful will not now be removable, for example because they have subsequently been granted leave to remain or enter (including those included under the Directorate's October 2003 concession for families) or they are from countries which have since joined the European Union. And some failed applications will have left the United Kingdom of their own accord.

As with all statistics, there are a number of issues that should be taken into consideration if figures are not to be taken out of context and distorted. For more information on such issues refer to ICAR's statistics section.

Last Updated: 10/06/10

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