Fresh data released by the United Kingdom Home Office has revealed that 22,619 Nigerian nationals submitted asylum applications in the country between 2010 and 2024.
This figure places Nigeria 11th on the list of countries with the highest number of asylum seekers in the UK during that period, with Nigerians making up roughly one out of every 30 asylum requests.
In 2024 alone, the number of asylum applications from Nigeria saw a sharp increase, rising from 1,462 in 2023 to 2,841—a significant year-on-year jump.
According to the UK’s latest Asylum and Resettlement report, the country received a total of 108,138 asylum applications in 2024, reflecting a staggering 378 percent rise compared to figures from 2010. The majority of applicants were first-time seekers from regions in South Asia and the Middle East.
Iran recorded the highest number of claims with 75,737 applications, largely driven by the regime’s clampdown on dissenting voices. Pakistan followed with 57,621 applications—including over 10,500 in 2024—due to unrest after elections, growing inflation, and an increase in blasphemy-related prosecutions.
Afghanistan was third with 54,363 applications during the 14-year span. In 2024 alone, 8,508 Afghans applied for asylum in the UK, following continued instability since the Taliban regained control in 2022.
Other nations with significant asylum figures include Albania (50,944), Iraq (45,711), Eritrea (37,687), Syria (34,997), and Bangladesh (31,744), where applications rose to 7,225 in 2024 amid rising political tension.
Rounding out the top ten were Sudan and India, with 30,897 and 30,179 claims respectively.
Nigeria came next, ahead of Sri Lanka (22,059), while countries like Vietnam, China, Turkey, Brazil, and Yemen recorded fewer than 6,500 claims over the same period.