Nigeria tops ireland’s asylum applications as overall numbers decline
Nigeria has emerged as the leading source of asylum seekers in Ireland, according to new figures released by Ireland’s Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
The department’s August report revealed that Ireland received 1,164 new asylum applications in July 2025, down from 1,735 in July 2024 — a sharp year-on-year decline. Between January and July 2025, a total of 7,207 asylum applications were lodged, representing a 42 percent drop compared to 12,236 during the same period in 2024.
Nigeria led the list of source countries with 1,083 applications, followed by Pakistan (945), Somalia (933), Afghanistan (767), and Georgia (462).
The report also highlighted progress in clearing Ireland’s asylum backlog. At the end of September 2024, 23,863 cases were pending at the International Protection Office (IPO). By July 2025, the figure had reduced to 18,323. Authorities attributed the decline to improved processing capacity, with 1,755 applications resolved in July 2025 compared to 1,294 in July 2024.
Officials noted that the statistics, extracted on August 8, remain operational and subject to updates as cases are processed.
In contrast, the United Kingdom continues to struggle with surging asylum numbers. Nearly 89,000 applications were recorded in the year to June 2025, with a backlog of over 224,000 cases still awaiting decisions or appeals.
