12.07.2021 – 07:47
Asylum applications of Albanian citizens in the European Union and other (EU +) during the last decade have been very high in relation to the population of the country.
According to the figures of the latest annual report of the European Asylum Office (EASO), from 2010 (the first year reported) until 2020, there were a total of 207.2 thousand applications from Albanian citizens for asylum in the European Union + Switzerland (UK data not included).
The highest number of asylum applications was in 2015, with almost 67 thousand people, halving a year later and fluctuating at the level of 20-24 thousand people in 2017-2019. In 2020, applications were significantly reduced, down to about 7 thousand, due to the situation created by the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced the closure of borders (see graph: Asylum applications by Albanian citizens in the EU +).
EASO data divides applications into both juvenile and adult. The high number of applications from minors each year is noticeable, which is on average one third of the total applications and 33% for the whole period.
Compared to other countries in the region for the same period, Albania holds the record for total applications.
