Number of asylum seekers and relatives almost equal

© ANP
The Netherlands received 16,145 first asylum requests in 2017; 14,490 following family members arrived. In total, there were 2 percent fewer asylum seekers and following relatives compared to 2016. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this based on new figures from the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).

The total number of asylum seekers and following relatives entering the Netherlands in 2017 stood at 30,635, down by 550 on the previous year. The share of following relatives went up to 47 percent in 2017, versus 38 percent one year previously. It is the highest share since a special procedure enables asylum seekers to bring over their family members.

First asylum requests and following family members
   First asylum requests (persons)Following family members (persons)
2013J735465
2013F675160
2013M695170
2013A690300
2013M615230
2013J705280
2013J765340
2013A740235
2013S1025405
2013O1185310
2013N1055390
2013D960350
2014J1380230
2014F910420
2014M960310
2014A2225370
2014M3260240
2014J1700270
2014J2000530
2014A2125330
2014S2865555
2014O1905560
2014N1255695
2014D1230845
2015J895700
2015F735580
2015M805555
2015A1140570
2015M2250995
2015J29251245
2015J29801645
2015A53301610
2015S64351970
2015O99801740
2015N62401065
2015D33801175
2016J2565785
2016F1795685
2016M1220440
2016A985400
2016M980445
2016J1115460
2016J1535665
2016A1765705
2016S18901230
2016O20501550
2016N19252125
2016D15402315
2017J13801275
2017F12502100
2017M13801910
2017A11651685
2017M13001470
2017J1380940
2017J1545765
2017A1445755
2017S1395745
2017O1340905
2017N1335935
2017D1345995

More adult asylum seekers and following relatives

The percentage share of minors among asylum seekers and following family members dropped compared to 2016, while there were relatively more male and female adults. The shares of minors as well as male adults both amounted to 37 percent. A relatively high number of following family members are underage, but the percentage share has dropped since 2013. In 2017, the share of minors among asylum seekers decreased as well for the first time in several years.

Asylum seekers and following family members by age and sex
 Male adults (%)Female adults (%)Minors (%)
201336.423.839.8
201449.520.230.3
201545.222.132.7
201634.924.440.7
20173726.536.5

Highest number of Turkish asylum seekers since 2002

The Netherlands received 480 Turkish asylum requests in 2017, eight times as many as in 2015 and the highest number since 2002. Since Turkey’s failed coup in June 2016, the number of Turkish asylum requests has been higher than before. In November 2017, 80 Turks submitted a first asylum request. A rise is also seen in most other EU countries since the failed coup attempt, especially in Germany and Greece.

First asylum requests and following family members of Turkish nationality
   First asylum requests (persons)Following family members
2013J50
2013F100
2013M50
2013A50
2013M00
2013J00
2013J55
2013A00
2013S55
2013O05
2013N55
2013D00
2014J55
2014F50
2014M105
2014A55
2014M00
2014J00
2014J100
2014A00
2014S00
2014O00
2014N50
2014D50
2015J50
2015F50
2015M50
2015A00
2015M00
2015J50
2015J50
2015A00
2015S50
2015O100
2015N50
2015D150
2016J50
2016F50
2016M50
2016A510
2016M50
2016J50
2016J150
2016A300
2016S550
2016O300
2016N500
2016D300
2017J200
2017F500
2017M250
2017A350
2017M250
2017J450
2017J350
2017A350
2017S400
2017O400
2017N800
2017D550

Syrians and Eritreans still account for over half

In 2017, Syrians and Eritreans were the largest groups of asylum seekers and following relatives, just like in the three previous years. They represented 38 and 15 percent respectively of the total number. In addition, stateless persons, often Palestinians from Syria, accounted for 5 percent.

First asylum requests and following family members by nationality
 Syrian Eritrean StatelessOther
201325859852959605
201411555402530308555
2015276558375490516005
2016112603170146015295
2017115504470160013015