Statistics

Author

Nikola Kovačević

Overview of statistical practice (1)

The Asylum Office does not publish statistics on asylum applications and decisions. Basic figures based on information provided by the Asylum Office are published by UNHCR office in Serbia. Positive and negative decision rates are weighed against the total number of decisions rendered in merits in the same timeframe. Apart from the first column which is related to the number of applicants/persons in 2024, all other figures refer to the number of decisions. The total number of persons encompassed with the bellow-outlined decisions can be observed in the Asylum Office practice in 2024. Thus, one decision can encompass two or more asylum seekers. It is also important to note that decisions to discontinue asylum procedures due to absconding are still the most common decisions and that is the reason why, in relation to many nationalities, there are no in-merit decisions.

Applications and granting of protection status at first instance – top 10 nationalities: 2024[1]

Source: Ministry of Interior – Asylum Office and of the UNHCR office in Serbia (monthly reports) and Asylum Office’s responses to the request for the information of public importance nos. 07-34/24, 30 August 2024 (delivered on 20 September 2024) and 07-2/25, 11 February 2025 (delivered on 21 February 2025).

Note 1: The figure for “total” refers to all nationalities, while the breakdown is for the top 10 countries of origin with the highest numbers of the applicants.

Note 2: ‘Applicants in year’ refers to the total number of applicants, and not only to first-time applicants.

Note 3: Statistics on decisions cover the decisions taken throughout the year, regardless of whether they concern applications lodged that year or in previous years.

Note 4: Statistics on decisions rendered in merits.

Note 5: ‘Total rejections’ in this column only covers negative decisions on the merit of the application (and not inadmissibility decisions).

Note 6: Temporary residency on humanitarian grounds (‘привремени боравак из хуманитарних разлога’) can be granted for the period ranging from 6 months to 1 year, in line with the Article 61 of the Foreigners Act.

Applications and granting of protection status at first instance – top ten nationalities: rates for 2024

Source: Ministry of Interior – Asylum Office and of the UNHCR office in Serbia (monthly reports) and Asylum Office’s responses to the information of public importance nos. 07-34/24, 30 August 2024 (delivered on 20 September 2024) and 07-2/25, 11 February 2025 (delivered on 21 February 2025).

Note 1: These rates are calculated based on total in-merit decisions.

Note 2: These rates are calculated based on in-merit decisions only, excluding non-in-merit rejections, as well as decision on temporary residency on humanitarian grounds, as it is irrelevant for the assessment of the asylum procedure in the Serbian context.

Gender/age breakdown of the total number of persons issued with the certificate on the intention to lodge asylum application in the Republic of Serbia: 2024

Source: Ministry of Interior – Asylum Office and UNCHR office in Serbia (monthly reports)

Note: The gender breakdown (Men/Women) for asylum applicants was not provided by the Asylum Office in 2024, but only a breakdown of persons who expressed their intention to lodge asylum application, and in line with the Article 35 (11) of the Asylum and Temporary Protection Act. The Asylum Office simply does not keep such data, but it is reasonable to assume that the ratio between men and women asylum applicants is similar to the ratio of men and women issued with registration certificates.

First instance and appeal decision rates: 2024

It should be noted that, during the same year, the first instance and appeal authorities handle different caseloads. Thus, the decisions below do not necessarily concern the same applicants.

Source: Ministry of Interior – Asylum Office and of the UNHCR office in Serbia (monthly reports), Asylum Office’s responses to the request for information of public importance nos. 07-34/24, 30 August 2024 (delivered on 20 September 2024) and 07-2/25, 11 February 2025 (delivered on 21 February 2025) and Asylum Commission response to the request for the information of public importance no. 01/25, 4 February 2025 (delivered on 7 February 2025).

[1] It is important to note that for the purpose of the 2024 Update to this report, the Asylum Office delivered copies of all decisions rendered in the period from 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024, which provided the author with the possibility to provide accurate statistical data and substantive analysis of the 2024 practice.

[2] Because humanitarian protection is not related to the asylum procedure or the Law on Asylum and Temporary Protection these figures have not been added to the figures for total decisions in 2024 and total in-merit decisions.

[3] Out of 219 applicants in 2024, only 3 were subsequent, while the rest were first-time applicants.

[4] This number does not encompass decisions on discontinuation due to absconding which cannot be accurately determined in terms of the ratio between number of decisions and number of persons. The Asylum Office provides inaccurate data to the UNHCR office in Serbia outlining in its monthly reports that the number of decisions on absconding is identical to the number of persons. This is simply not correct since 1 decision on absconding can encompass more people (e.g. families or couples). For that reason, the methodology established by the author is to reduce the total number of persons for 30% as the approximate number of decisions – 87. Thus, the approximate number of decisions on discontinuation in this Report will be 87 decisions rendered in relation to 113 persons. A total number of all decisions related to the asylum procedure and rendered by the Asylum Office in 2024 is 152. These 152 decisions encompass 200 persons.

[5] Ministry of Interior – Border Police Department’s Response to the request for the information of public importance no. 26-311/25, 5 June 2025 (received on 16 June 2025).

[6] All 4 decisions implied that the cases were referred back to the Asylum Office. Also, it is important to note that only two appeals were upheld on the basis of the arguments outlined in the appeal of applicants and their lawyers, while two other decisions in which the first instance decisions were quashed and cases referred back to the Asylum Office implied the positive judgment of the Administrative Court which referred cases back to the Asylum Commission- both cases were related to procedural issues, and not merits of the claim.

[7] It is important to note that 7 negative decisions were related to rejection of the appeals lodged against decisions on discontinuation of asylum procedure and not merits of the claim. Thus, in 32 cases the Asylum Commission examined the substance of asylum claims.