Cyprus ranks second in EU+ for asylum applications per capita in first half of 2026

Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus recorded the second-highest rate of asylum applications relative to its population among EU+ countries in the first half of 2026, the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) said in a report published on Thursday. Applications for international protection across Europe fell by 17 per cent overall.

Applications relative to population

Cyprus recorded 1,732 asylum applications per million inhabitants between January and June, more than twice the EU+ average of 710. Only Greece had a higher rate, at 2,254 applications per million inhabitants, equivalent to approximately one application for every 444 people.

Ireland followed Cyprus with 1,132 applications per million inhabitants, ahead of Italy with 1,127, Spain with 1,104, Switzerland with 1,067 and Belgium with 1,028.

Other forms of protection

The EUAA said Cyprus stood out further when asylum applications were considered alongside other forms of protection. At the end of June, it hosted 27 beneficiaries of temporary protection per 1,000 inhabitants, placing it among countries with particularly high numbers relative to their populations.

The agency described Cyprus as an “extreme case” because it ranked near the top on both measures. “This underlines the importance of considering asylum applications together with other forms of protection when comparing pressures across countries,” the report said.

The comparison shows that countries with relatively few asylum applications may still host large populations under other forms of protection. Poland recorded 87 asylum applications per million inhabitants but hosted 26 temporary protection beneficiaries per 1,000 people. Slovakia recorded 12 applications per million inhabitants and hosted 27 temporary protection beneficiaries per 1,000.