In their annual report on asylum claims in 44 industrialized countries released today, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) found that the number of asylum claims globally rose by 45% from 2013 to 2014.
There were approximately 866,000 asylum claims filed in 2014 - the second highest figure since the early 1980s when the UNHCR started systemically collecting statistics.
The report explains the overall increase as the result of, “[a] combination of armed conflict, deterioration of security or humanitarian situation and human rights concerns in a number of countries – notably the Syrian Arab Republic.” Syria went from being ranked 20th as a source of asylum-seekers in 2010, to 1st in 2013 and 2014.
Despite the overall global increase, there was a 23% decrease in asylum claims filed in Australia in 2014 – a country that has come under significant criticism and scrutiny from the international community for its treatment and policies on asylum-seekers. Another notable statistic in the report included Canada dropping to the bottom of the world’s top-15 receiving countries this year, from a ranking of 5th in 2010; possibly reflecting changes to refugee laws and policies in Canada in recent years.
Germany remains ranked first in the top-15 receiving countries, having replaced the United States in 2013.
There were approximately 866,000 asylum claims filed in 2014 - the second highest figure since the early 1980s when the UNHCR started systemically collecting statistics.
The report explains the overall increase as the result of, “[a] combination of armed conflict, deterioration of security or humanitarian situation and human rights concerns in a number of countries – notably the Syrian Arab Republic.” Syria went from being ranked 20th as a source of asylum-seekers in 2010, to 1st in 2013 and 2014.
Despite the overall global increase, there was a 23% decrease in asylum claims filed in Australia in 2014 – a country that has come under significant criticism and scrutiny from the international community for its treatment and policies on asylum-seekers. Another notable statistic in the report included Canada dropping to the bottom of the world’s top-15 receiving countries this year, from a ranking of 5th in 2010; possibly reflecting changes to refugee laws and policies in Canada in recent years.
Germany remains ranked first in the top-15 receiving countries, having replaced the United States in 2013.