European Union vs South Africa: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum over time
- European Union
- South Africa
How they compare
European Union currently reports 1.13 million against 82,358 in South Africa, a difference of 1.04 million.
That makes European Union's figure about 13.7 times South Africa's.
The two have swapped places 4 times across 26 shared years of data; in 2000 it was European Union ahead.
European Union ranks 20th and South Africa ranks 20th of 47 groups.
European Union has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | European Union | South Africa | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 264,831 | 125,730 | 139,101 | European Union |
| 2010s | 628,990 | 320,066 | 308,924 | European Union |
| 2020s | 921,984 | 115,795 | 806,189 | European Union |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum, European Union or South Africa?
- European Union, at 1.13 million against 82,358 in South Africa as of 2025.
- What is the difference in asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum between European Union and South Africa?
- 1.04 million, with European Union ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for European Union and South Africa?
- 26 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2025.
- How do European Union and South Africa rank globally for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum?
- European Union ranks 20th and South Africa ranks 20th of 47 groups.
- Where does this data come from?
- Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published as Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Asylum-seekers are individuals who have sought international protection and whose claims for refugee status have not yet been determined. This includes those who are in various stages of the asylum process, such as initial application, appeal, or awaiting final decision. In specific contexts, asylum-seekers may also include those who are seeking protection under complementary forms of protection, and those enjoying temporary protection, but whose claims are still under consideration.