How UK really compares to the continent over asylum

Is the home secretary Shabana Mahmood's radical policy overhaul proportionate to numbers arriving on our shores?

- ALEX CROFT

The UK government has unveiled plans for a radical overhaul of its asylum system, as immigration continues to dominate the political agenda.

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood’s proposals are facing a fierce backlash, having been described by her own Labour MPs as “performatively cruel”.

Under the new rules, refugee status will become temporary – lasting just 30 months instead of the current five years – and will be revoked once it is deemed safe for the individual to return home.

The UK will also revoke its legal duty to support asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute, and will seize assets and income from asylum seekers to contribute to the cost of their support.

With Britain’s asylum policy set to become one of the toughest in Europe, The Independent takes a look at how the current UK statistics really compare to the rest of the continent – and the policies behind the numbers.

How does the UK compare to Europe on asylum seekers

Data shows that the UK receives far fewer asylum seekers than comparable European countries in proportion to population size.

Per 100,000 people in 2024, the UK came fifth for most applicants (156) after Spain (340), Germany (275), Italy (256) and France (191). The EU average last year was 203 per 100,000 people.

The UK is now seeking to emulate reforms carried out in Denmark by Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen after she was elected in 2019. Two years earlier, the two nations were on a level pegging, proportionally speaking.

Denmark received 57 applications per 100,000 people on average, and the UK 55. Since the 2019 measures came into force, the UK has seen its number triple to 156 per 100,000, while Denmark's numbers fell in the same period.