In the year to June 2024, the largest overall number of UK asylum seekers came from Afghanistan – 9,342.
Other big countries for applications were Iran, Pakistan, Vietnam, India, and Bangladesh.
In 2022, Albanians were the top nationality with more than 17,300 people (including dependants) claiming asylum. Three-quarters arrived on small boats.
Ukrainian refugees who came to the UK after Russia’s invasion of their country are not included in these figures.
As at 26 August 2024, 262,700 visas had been issued to Ukrainian refugees, external who have come through legal routes set up by the UK government.
There are separate arrangements for a few other specific groups to come to the UK, such as some Afghan refugees and Hong Kong citizens.
