Author
Regular statistics are not published by the authorities. In 2022, requests for information were sent to the following public authorities: International Protection Agency (including the Dublin Unit), the International Protection Appeals Tribunal, the Ministry for Home Affairs, Security, Reforms and Equality, the Malta Police Force, Jobsplus, the Superintendent for Public Health, and the Agency for the Welfare of Asylum-Seekers. Information was provided by Jobsplus whilst the Ministry provided statistics following a Freedom of Information Request.
UNHCR Malta regularly publishes information on arrivals, asylum applications, decisions and reception of asylum seekers. In 2022 the total number of decisions taken was 2,626.[1]
Applications and granting of protection status at first instance: 2022[2]
| Applicants in year | Pending at end of year | Refugee status | Subsidiary protection | Rejection | Refugee rate | Sub. Prot. rate | Rejection rate | |
| Total | 973 | 1,730 | 15 | 172 | 783 | 0.6% | 6.5% | 30% |
| Breakdown by countries of origin of the total numbers | ||||||||
| Syria | 243 | 376 | 0 | 89 | 2 | 0% | 3.4% | 0.1% |
| Eritrea | 93 | 180 | 0 | 76 | 6 | 0% | 2.9% | 0.2% |
| Bangladesh | 78 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Ukraine | 92 | 90 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Libya | 63 | 122 | 6 | 0 | 79 | 0.2% | 0% | 3% |
| Egypt | 58 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Nigeria | 36 | 66 | 0 | 0 | 115 | 0% | 0% | 4.4% |
| Somalia | 27 | 167 | 0 | 7 | 30 | 0% | 0.3% | 1.1% |
| The Gambia | 24 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0% | 0% | 0.9% |
| Sudan | 32 | 165 | 1 | 0 | 269 | 0.04% | 0% | 10.2% |
Malta recognised refugees status for the following applicants: Libya (6), Palestine and Cameroon[3] (2), Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Iran, Russia and Sudan (1).
* 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. It should not cover inadmissibility decisions.
* “Applicants in year” refers to the total number of applicants, and not only to first-time applicants.
Gender/age breakdown of the total number of applicants: 2022[4]
| Number | Percentage | |
| Total number of applicants | 916 | |
| Adult Men | 567 | 62% |
| Adult Women | 175 | 19% |
| Children (accompanied) | 144 | 16% |
| Unaccompanied children | 32 | 3% |
Source: Ministry for Home Affairs, Security, Reforms and Equality
[1] UNHCR Malta, Figures at a glance, available at: https://bit.ly/3bgXj6a.
[2] Information provided by the Ministry for Home Affairs, Security, Reforms and Equality via a Freedom of Information Request, on 24 March 2023.
[3] These were recognised as refugees at second instance.
[4] These figures refer to first-time applicants and do not include subsequent applications.