Germany sees 55% drop in asylum applications in October

The number of asylum seekers in Germany fell sharply in October, decreasing by approximately 55% compared to the same month last year, according to Bild.

The newspaper reported that there were 8,823 initial asylum applications in October 2025, down from 19,785 in October 2024.

Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told Bild that the figures indicate that the country’s migration policy is working. He added that authorities have significantly reduced the “pull factors” that attract illegal migrants to Germany.

Germany has long been one of Europe’s main destinations for asylum seekers, particularly since the 2015 migrant crisis, when over a million people entered the country. Since then, successive governments have implemented stricter border controls, faster asylum processing, and cooperation agreements with neighbouring countries to limit irregular migration.

In 2025, new measures, including tighter enforcement of EU regulations and agreements with transit countries, appear to have contributed to the sharp decline in applications. 

By Khagan Isayev