Statistics

Republic of Ireland

Country Report: Statistics Last updated: 02/06/25

Author

Irish Refugee Council Visit Website

Overview of statistical practice

Since January 2017, the International Protection Office (IPO) has been responsible for receiving and examining applications. The IPO publishes brief monthly statistical reports on international protection applications.[1] The Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) (formerly Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS)) is part of the Department of Justice and Equality and provides data about asylum and managed migration in Ireland to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. This data is published on the EU open data portal along with data from other European countries.[2]

Applications and granting of protection status at first instance: 2024

  Applicants in 2024 (1) Pending at

end of 2024

Total decisions in 2024 (2) Total rejection In merit rejection Refugee status Subsidiary protection Humanitarian permission to remain (3)
Total 18,560 22,548 13,099 9,703 9,211 3,294 296 298
Breakdown by countries of origin of the total numbers
Nigeria 4,037
Jordan 2,877
Pakistan 1,390
Somalia 1,308
Bangladesh 1,007
Afghanistan 1,000
Palestine 957
Georgia 694
Zimbabwe 572
South Africa 413

Source: International Protection Office, March 2025.

Note 1: “Applicants in year” refers to the total number of applicants, and not only to first-time applicants.

Note 2: Statistics on decisions cover the decisions taken throughout the year, regardless of whether they concern applications lodged that year or in previous years.

Note 3: ‘Leave to remain’ takes account of criteria such as humanitarian considerations and/or the person’s connections to the State, to determine whether there are compelling reasons to allow the person permission to remain in Ireland. This assessment is conducted in the event that both a claim for refugee and subsidiary protection are ultimately refused. See National forms of protection.

Applications and granting of protection status at first instance: rates for 2024

  Overall rejection rate In merit rejection rate Overall protection rate Refugee rate Subsidiary

protection rate

Humanitarian

protection rate

Total 74% 70% 30% 25% 2.5% 2.5%
Breakdown by countries of origin of the total numbers
Somalia
Afghanistan
Zimbabwe
Georgia
Nigeria
South Africa
Ukraine
Syrian Arab Republic
Algeria
Pakistan

Source: International Protection Office, March 2025.

Gender/age breakdown of the total number of applicants: 2024

  Adults Children
Accompanied Unaccompanied
Number 13,313 4, 999 248
Percentage 71.72% 26.93% 1.33%
  Men Women Not specified
Number 11, 493 7, 405 22
Percentage 61.92% 39.89% 0.11%

Source: International Protection Office, March 2025.

First instance and appeal decision rates: 2024

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.

  First instance Appeal
  Number Percentage Number Percentage
Total number of decisions 13,099 2,887
Positive decisions 3,888 30% 756 26%
  • Refugee status
3,294 25% 676 23%
  • Subsidiary protection
296 2.5% 80 3%
  • Humanitarian leave to remain
298 2.5%
Negative decisions 9,703 74% 2,013 74%

Source: International Protection Office, March 2025.

International Protection Appeals Tribunal, February 2025.

 

 

 

[1] IPO, Statistics, available here.

[2] ISD, Open Data, available here.

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 – Transposition of the CEAS in national legislation