Europe’s refugee and asylum-seeker population stabilised in 2025 after years of rapid growth, with asylum applications declining for a second consecutive year, a report by the Centre for the Research and Analysis of Migration at the Rockwool Foundation Berlin showed.

The combined number of refugees and asylum seekers in the European Union and Britain stood at 9.59 million in 2025, almost unchanged from 9.58 million a year earlier. The figures mark a significant shift from the sharp increases seen in the years following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Asylum applications fell to 770,000 in 2025, down from 1.01 million in 2024 and 1.1 million in 2023, according to the report.

“The period of rapid growth in Europe’s refugee population appears to have come to an end,” said Tommaso Frattini, deputy director at the institute.

Migration has become a politically sensitive issue across many European countries in recent years, contributing to rising support for far-right and right-wing populist parties.

While the overall numbers have stabilised, the report highlights significant differences between countries.

Germany, Europe’s largest host nation, recorded a 4.7% decline in its refugee and asylum-seeker population, while Italy saw a sharper drop of 17.9%. In contrast, France, Spain and Britain all registered increases.

The report said Germany’s decline was largely due to reduced inflows and the naturalisation of earlier refugee groups, particularly Syrians and Iraqis, rather than large-scale departures.

Syrian asylum applications fell by more than 70% following the collapse of the Assad regime in late 2024, while applications from Venezuelans rose by 24% to 91,000.

Ukrainians continue to represent the largest group, accounting for nearly half of all refugees and asylum seekers in the EU and Britain, the report said.