Slightly fewer asylum seekers and following relatives

In 2019, the number of first asylum requests was up by more than 2 thousand, while family reunification was down by 2.3 thousand year-on-year. The total number of asylum seekers and following relatives has been in decline since 2015.

Since 2013, Syrians have constituted the largest group among asylum seekers. In 2019, 3.7 thousand came to the Netherlands, over 700 more than in the previous year. The next largest group are Nigerians. Their number increased from just under 600 in 2018 to 2.1 thousand in 2019.

Asylum requests from Moldova saw a substantial rise as well last year: 45 percent. Moldovan nationals currently form the sixth largest group of asylum seekers. At 1,205, their number is almost as high as the number of Turkish (1,250) and Algerian (1,210) nationals. The number of Eritrean asylum seekers dropped by more than 900 to 500 last year. They have formed a large group among asylum seekers since 2014.

Following relatives still mainly Syrians and Eritreans

In 2019, the number of following family members mainly declined due to a substantial drop in family reunification among Syrians and Eritreans. Relative to 2018, there was a decline of 800 in both groups. However, they still accounted for three-quarters of all family reunification.