Statistics

Greece

Country Report: Statistics Last updated: 30/05/22

Author

Greek Council for Refugees Visit Website

Overview of statistical practice

Since February 2020, the authorities have suspended the publication of statistical information by the Asylum Service, previously made available on a monthly basis. Disparities continue to persist between figures provided by the Greek government to Eurostat and actual practice. Eurostat continues to report zero figures for withdrawals of international protection in Greece, even though withdrawal decisions have in fact been taken by the Asylum Service based on cases followed by GCR and other NGOs working on the field. A similar issue is reported vis-à-vis decisions in the accelerated procedure pursuant to Article 31(8) of the recast Asylum Procedures Directive.

The Appeals Authority has still not published quarterly activity reports pursuant to Article 4(3) L 4375/2016, in which it should include statistics on appeals lodged, the percentage of cases processed in written and oral procedures, processing times of appeals, recognition rates, applications for annulment lodged against Appeals Committee decisions, applications for legal aid and beneficiaries of legal aid.[1] However, some figures on the appeal procedure are included in the monthly statistical reports of the Ministry of Migration and Asylum.

 

Applications and granting of protection status at first instance in 2021:

  Applicants in 2021 Pending applications at the end of 2021 Refugee status Subsidiary protection Rejection (on the merits)[2]   Refugee rate Subs. Prot. rate Rejection rate (on the merits)
Total 28,320 31,787 13,051 3,537 10,991  47.3% 12.9%  39.9%
Breakdown by countries of origin of the total numbers:
Afghanistan 4,618 1,568 3,879 2,772
Pakistan 4,273 1,433 114 6
Syria 3,870 1,599 3,087 3
Bangladesh 2,731 1,589
Turkey 1,923 1,961 364 0
Iraq 1,622 438 1,531 293
Somalia 1,541 594 749 244

Source: MoMA, Factsheet December 2021, https://bit.ly/3tA7eA0; Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Reply to parliamentary question, 97157/2022, 17 February 2022, https://bit.ly/3HiYIsF: Information provided by the Appeals Authority, 11 March 2022.

 

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

  Number Percentage
Total number of applicants 28,320 100%
Men 15,665 55.3%
Women 4,210 14.8%
Minors (also unaccompanied) 8,445 29.8%

Source: Source: MoMA, Factsheet December 2021, https://bit.ly/3tA7eA0.

 

The figures on children and unaccompanied children are part of the figures on men and women.

 

Comparison between first instance and appeal in-merit decision rates: 2021

  First instance Appeal
  Number Percentage Number Percentage
Total number of decisions on the merits  10,991 100 11,059 100
Positive decisions 16,588  60.22% 1,863 16.84%
Refugee status 13,051  47.3% 730 6.60%
Subsidiary protection 3,537  12.9% 1,133 10.24%
Negative decisions (in merits) 10,991  39.9% 9,196 83.15%

Source: MoMA, Factsheet December 2021, https://bit.ly/3tA7eA0; Ministry of Migration and Asylum, Reply to parliamentary question, 97157/2022, 17 February 2022, https://bit.ly/3HiYIsF; Appeals Authority, Information provided on 11 March 2022.

 

 

 

[1] RSA, ‘Asylum statistics for 2020 should be published and unpacked’, 15 July 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/3fgR7yn.

[2] Inadmissibility decisions (12,332) exceeded rejections on the merits (10,991) at first instance due to the wide application of the safe third country concept after the entry into force of the JMD 42799/2021.

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