Statistics

Cyprus

Country Report: Statistics Last updated: 08/04/22

Author

Cyprus Refugee Council Visit Website

Overview of statistical practice

 

The Asylum Service, a department of the Ministry of Interior, is the authority responsible for asylum-related statistical collection in Cyprus. The below statistics have been provided by the Asylum Service.

Applications and granting of protection status at first instance: 2021

  Applicants in 2021 Pending at end 2021 Refugee status Subsidiary protection Rejection Refugee rate Sub. Prot. rate Rejection rate
Total 13,773 18,808 291 1,983 9,962 2.38% 16.21% 81.42%
 

Breakdown by countries of origin of the total numbers

 

Syrian Arab Republic 3,051 5,525 24 1.913 6 1.2% 98.5% 0.3%
DR Congo 1,723 2,183 6 5 233 2.5% 2.05% 95.5%
Nigeria 1,555 1,793 9 0 498 1.8% 0% 98.2%
Pakistan 998 525 3 0 1,327 0.2% 0% 99.8%
India 986 709 0 0 2,117 0% 0% 100%
Cameroon 775 2,529 48 0 407 10.5% 0% 89.4%
Bangladesh 686 291 4 1 1,922 0.2% 0.1% 99.7%
Somalia 677 840 18 32 32 21.9% 39% 39%
Nepal 619 682 0 0 471 0% 0% 100%
Sierra Leone 460 574 0 0 51 0% 0% 100%

Source: Asylum Service.

 

The total number of applicants includes subsequent applications. The number of first-time applications was 13,235. Statistics on decisions cover the decisions taken throughout the year, regardless of whether they concern applications lodged that year or in previous years. “Rejection” only covers negative decisions on the merit of the application, not including inadmissibility decisions.

 

Gender/age breakdown of the total number of applicants: 2021

  Number Percentage
Total number of applicants 13,773
Men, incl. children N/A N/A
Women, incl. children N/A N/A
Children N/A N/A
Unaccompanied children 659 N/A

Source: Asylum Service.

 

Comparison between first instance and appeal decision rates: 2021

  First instance Appeal
  Number Percentage Number Percentage
Total number of decisions 14,868 3,680
Positive decisions 1653 11.1% 13 0.3%
  • Refugee status
181 1.2% 7 0.1%
  • Subsidiary protection
1,472 9.9% 0 0%
  • Order to Review*
n/a n/a 6 0.10%
Negative decisions 9,555 64.2% 2,549 69.2%
Subsequent application (inadmissible) 1,796 12.1% n/a n/a
Withdrawals (implicit/explicit)  1,806 12.1% 1,118 30.3%

Source: Asylum Service and IPAC. 

 

 

*If the IPAC accepts the appeal, the decision of the Asylum Service will be cancelled. However, the Court has the jurisdiction to return the decision to the Asylum Service to be reviewed or it may grant refugee status or subsidiary protection.[1]

International Protection Administrative Court (IPAC): At the end of 2020, there were 1,100 pending appeals before the IPAC. Throughout 2021, the number of pending appeals registered a sharp increase, reaching a total of  6,537 at the end of the year. This includes all appeals submitted relevant to the Refugee Law, therefore, although the vast majority are appeals related to international protection claims, the number also includes appeals against detention orders, family reunification decisions, reception condition decisions etc.

Refugee Reviewing Authority: Operations ceased in December 2020 and at the time 432 cases involving a total of 665 persons were not concluded and were transferred back to the Asylum Service. In early 2022, the majority of these cases are still pending as the Asylum Service has not commenced their review.

 

[1]          Article 11 IPAC Law.

Table of contents

  • Statistics
  • Overview of the legal framework
  • Overview of the main changes since the previous report update
  • Asylum Procedure
  • Reception Conditions
  • Detention of Asylum Seekers
  • Content of International Protection
  • ANNEX I – Transposition of the CEAS in national legislation