Author
Overview of statistical practice
Regular statistics are not published by the authorities. According to IPA, a total of 985 decisions were taken in 2024.[1] Comprehensive data on all decisions taken by IPA in 2024 is presented in Annex II.
Applications and granting of protection status at first instance: figures for 2025
As no data was made available at the national level, in contrast with previous years the following information was taken from Eurostat. However, this data must be read with caution, as data on Eurostat presented discrepancies in previous years. It should also be noted that Eurostat data is rounded to the closest 5, meaning it is only possible to have an approximate view of Malta’s decision making practice in 2025 as the numbers are small, making variations due to rounding more significant.
| Applicants in 2025 | Pending at
end of 2025 |
Total decisions in 2025[2] | Total in merit decisions | Total rejection | In merit rejection | Refugee status | Subsidiary protection | Temporary Humanitarian Protection (THP)[3] | ||
| Total | 545[4] | 1,415 | 500 | Not available | 300 | Not available | 85 | 75 | 35 | |
| Breakdown by countries of origin of the total numbers | ||||||||||
| Syria | 125 | 280 | 70 | – | 15 | – | 20 | 35 | 0 | |
| Libya | 40 | 180 | 25 | – | 15 | – | 5 | 0 | 5 | |
| Colombia | 40 | 80 | 30 | – | 25 | – | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| Sudan | 35 | 145 | 10 | – | 0 | – | 5 | 5 | 0 | |
| Bangladesh | 35 | 25 | 25 | – | 25 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Nigeria | 35 | 90 | 25 | – | 10 | – | 10 | 0 | 5 | |
| Ukraine | 20 | 70 | 80 | – | 70 | – | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| Pakistan | 20 | 40 | 25 | – | 10 | – | 0 | 0 | 10 | |
| Somalia | 15 | 55 | 15 | – | 10 | – | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| The Gambia | 15 | 35 | 10 | – | 10 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Palestine | 15 | 10 | 25 | – | 0 | – | 15 | 5 | 0 | |
Source: Eurostat, ‘Asylum applicants by type, citizenship, age and sex – annual aggregated data’, last updated 13 April 2026, available here; Eurostat, ‘Persons subject of asylum applications pending at the end of the month by citizenship, age and sex – monthly data’, last updated 29 April 2026, available here; Eurostat, ‘First instance decisions on applications by type of decision, citizenship, age and sex – annual aggregated data’, last updated 24 April 2026, available here.
Applications and granting of protection status at first instance: rates for year 2025
According to Eurostat, approximately 500 decisions were taken in 2025, as illustrated above.
| Overall protection rate | Refugee rate | Subsidiary
protection rate |
Temporary Humanitarian
protection rate |
Overall rejection rate | |
| Total | 39% | 17% | 15% | 7% | 60% |
| Breakdown by countries of origin of the total numbers | |||||
| Syria | 79% | 29% | 50% | 0% | 21% |
| Libya | 40% | 20% | 0% | 20% | 60% |
| Colombia | 17% | 0% | 17% | 0% | 83% |
| Sudan | 100% | 50% | 50% | 0% | 0% |
| Bangladesh | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 100% |
| Nigeria | 60% | 40% | % | 20% | 40% |
| Ukraine | 12% | 0% | 12% | 0% | 88% |
| Pakistan | 40% | 0% | 0% | 40% | 40% |
| Somalia | 33% | 33% | 0% | 0% | 67% |
| The Gambia | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 100% |
| Palestine | 80% | 60% | 20% | 0% | 0% |
Source of the percentages: Based on calculations of the figures shared n Eurostat. All rates are calculated on the basis of total decisions taken on applications from those countries.
Gender/age breakdown of the total number of applicants: 2025 (545 total applicants)
| Adults | Children | ||
| Accompanied | Unaccompanied | ||
| Number | 435 | 105 (65 male, 50 female) | 10 (10 male) |
| Percentage | 79% | 19% | 2% |
| Men | Women | |
| Number | 390 | 155 |
| Percentage | 72% | 28% |
Source: Eurostat, ‘Asylum applicants by type, citizenship, age and sex – annual aggregated data’, last updated 13 April 2026, available here; Eurostat, ‘Asylum applicants considered to be unaccompanied minors by citizenship, age and sex – annual data’, last updated 8 April 2026, available here.
First instance and appeal decision rates: 2025
It should be noted that, during the same year, the first instance and appeal authorities handle different caseloads. Thus, the decisions below do not concern the same applicants. As no data was made available at the national level, in contrast with previous years the following information was taken from Eurostat. It should also be noted that Eurostat data is rounded to the closest 5, meaning it is only possible to have an approximate view of Malta’s decision making practice in 2025 as the numbers are small, making variations due to rounding more significant.
| First instance | Appeal | |||
| Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | |
| Total number of decisions | 500 | 100% | 190 | 100% |
| Positive decisions | 195 | 39% | 10 | 5% |
|
85 | 17% | 10 | 5% |
|
75 | 15% | 0 | 0% |
|
35 | 7% | 0 | 0% |
|
0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Negative decisions[6] | 300 | 60% | 180 | 95% |
Source: Eurostat, ‘Asylum applicants by type, citizenship, age and sex – annual aggregated data’, last updated 13 April 2026, available here; Eurostat, ‘Final decisions in appeal or review on applications by type of decision, citizenship, age and sex – annual data’, last updated 24 April 2026, available here.
First and subsequent applications breakdown by country of Origin: 2025
Because of the lack of data made available at the national level and the Eurostat discrepancies regarding applicants,[7] this information cannot be reliably provided for 2025.
[1] The total number of decisions includes the following types of decisions: Administrative Closure, Dublin Closure, Explicitly Withdrawn, Implicitly Withdrawn, Inadmissible, No Change, Refugee Status, Subsidiary Protection, Temporary Humanitarian Protection and In Merits Rejection.
[2] These figures include other decisions not reflected in this table, such as implicitly withdrawn, explicitly withdrawn, administrative closures, Dublin closure, or a no change from their previous decision after they lodged a subsequent application. These are included in the ‘Total’ to represent an accurate amount of decisions for these nationalities.
[3] THP is a form of national protection regulated by Article 17A of the International Protection Act and awarded to applicants for international protection who does not qualify for refugee status or subsidiary protection status, but who is deemed to qualify for protection on humanitarian grounds (see National forms of protection).
[4] This is the total number reported by Malta to Eurostat, however it should be noted that the breakdown provided indicates that there were 405 first time applicants, and 40 subsequent applicants, which adds up to 445 total. The figure of 545 was chosen for this report as other breakdowns in Eurostat amount to 545 (breakdown by sex) or 550 (breakdown by age).
[5] In relation to the IPAT, this number refers to applications reversed to IPA.
[6] This figure incorporates: Administrative Closure, Dublin Closure, Explicitly and Implicitly Withdrawn, Inadmissible, No Change, Rejection.
[7] Data provided on Eurostat indicates 405 first time applicants, 40 subsequent applicants, for a total of 545 applicants. Such discrepancies also appear when looking at the data by nationality and cannot solely be due to Eurostat rounding to the closest 5.