Asylum Applications
LONDON: In the fiscal year 2024–25, Pakistani nationals represented the largest group of asylum seekers in the United Kingdom, according to newly released data from the UK Home Office. A total of 11,048 Pakistanis applied for asylum during this period, accounting for 10.1% of all applications received—a significant rise from the previous year, when Pakistan ranked third in nationality-based asylum claims.
The overall number of asylum applications in the UK reached a record-breaking 109,343 in the year leading up to March 2025, marking the highest annual figure since records began in 2001. This represents a 17% increase from the 93,150 applications recorded during the previous 12-month period ending in March 2024.
Pakistan’s sharp rise in asylum claims is notable, given that in 2023–24, the country accounted for 7,003 applications, or 7.5% of the total. The 2024–25 data reflects a growing trend, with Pakistan now overtaking other countries historically at the top of the list.
Following Pakistan, Afghan nationals made up the second-largest group of asylum seekers, with 8,069 applications (7.4%), down from 9,738 (10.5%) in the previous year when Afghanistan held the top spot. Syrian nationals also saw a significant increase, with 6,175 asylum claims (5.6%), up from 4,232 (4.5%) in 2023–24.
A considerable portion of asylum seekers—33%—arrived in the UK via small boat crossings over the English Channel, underlining the growing challenge of managing irregular migration routes.
Despite the rise in new asylum applications, the backlog of pending cases has notably declined. As of March 2025, 109,536 people were awaiting an initial decision, a 12% drop from the 124,802 cases pending in December 2024.
This is the lowest figure recorded since December 2021. The number of applicants waiting over six months for a decision also fell to 67,373, down from 73,866 in the previous quarter and significantly lower than the peak of 139,961 in June 2023.
In addition, enforced returns of individuals without the legal right to remain in the UK slightly declined in early 2025. From January to March, 2,312 people were deported, down from 2,365 in the last quarter of 2024. However, both figures are higher than in any quarter since 2018.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper highlighted the government’s focus on strengthening immigration enforcement. “We have substantially increased immigration enforcement, taking strong action to return more foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers who have no right to be in the UK,” she stated.
Cooper emphasized that the upcoming Immigration White Paper reforms will introduce tougher measures aimed at accelerating the removal of foreign nationals who do not qualify to remain in the country.
