More asylum seekers, fewer following relatives in Q1

© Hollandse Hoogte
In Q1 2018, 4.2 thousand asylum seekers and 2.1 thousand following family members were registered in the Netherlands. The number of asylum seekers was slightly higher and the number of following relatives lower than in Q4 2017, but overall there was a slight decrease. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this based on new figures from the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).

Asylum seekers and following family members
   Asylum seekersFollowing family members
2013Q12105795
2013Q22005805
2013Q32530975
2013Q432001055
2014Q13255960
2014Q27185880
2014Q369851415
2014Q443852100
2015Q124351840
2015Q263152805
2015Q3147455220
2015Q4196003980
2016Q155801910
2016Q230801305
2016Q351852605
2016Q455205995
2017Q140305300
2017Q237954095
2017Q343652260
2017Q439552835
2018Q142152110

Syrians have formed the largest group of asylum seekers for several years. In Q1 2018, the Netherlands again received more asylum seekers from Syria (585) than from other countries, although numbers were lower compared to previous quarters. Eritreans constitute the second largest group of asylum seekers (500), exceeding numbers of the previous three quarters. They are followed by asylum seekers from Algeria (290), Morocco (245) and Iran (230).
These five groups combined represent less than half of the total number of asylum seekers in Q1 2018. The category ‘other’ includes many asylum seekers from countries which are on the list of safe countries of origin. The list also includes Algeria and Morocco. Asylum seekers from these countries usually have little chance of receiving an asylum residence permit.

Asylum seekers by nationality
 
Other2365
Syrian585
Eritrean500
Algerian290
Moroccan245
Iranian230

Following family members by nationality
 
Eritrean910
Syrian655
Other305
Iranian95
Stateless80
Unknown65

Syria and Eritrea are also the countries with most following family members: almost three-quarters of all following family members in Q1 2018. Nearly half of the following relatives are younger than 18.

More men, fewer children

The share of male adults among asylum seekers and following family members increased from 32 percent in Q1 2017 to 44 percent in Q1 2018; the share of female adults and children declined. The latter can be explained by a falling share of following relatives, who include relatively many women and children.

Asylum seekers and following family members by sex and age
   Men (%)Women (%)Boys (%)Girls (%)
2017I3025257020501680
2017II2750220516151315
2017III279516601240930
2017IV2755169512501095
2018 I276514701215870