In 2024, the total number of initial asylum requests across European Union nations amounted to 912,000, representing a decrease of 13% from the prior year.
The largest number of people applying for protection came from Syria, with 148,000 initial requests, which represents 16% of all first-time applications in the EU.
Following closely behind were Venezuelans, who submitted almost 73,000 applications, trailed by Afghans with slightly more than 72,000 applications.
Hungary had fewer applications than Liechtenstein.
Asylum applications also encompassed 36,000 unaccompanied children, primarily originating from Syria (32%), Afghanistan (16%), and Egypt (8%).
Twenty-five percent of all applications came from Germany, with Spain ranking second at 18%, followed by Italy at 17%, France at 14%, and Greece at 8%.
The dataset includes additional non-EU countries like Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway.
Hungary was the country that received the lowest number of applications overall - 25.
Cyprus bears greatest migration pressure
Cyprus, however, faced the highest pressure with 7.2 first-time applicants per 1,000 people, while the EU average is two.
The country undertook a major sea rescue operation last month when a migrant boat carrying at least 20 people capsized 45 kilometres off the coast of the Mediterranean island, leaving only two survivors.
The rescue effort took place amid rising irregular border crossings in the eastern Mediterranean, according to the EU's border protection agency Frontex.
In terms of applications per thousand people, Greece follows Cyprus with 6.6, trailed by Ireland and Spain (3.4 each) and Luxembourg (3.2).