Statistics

Switzerland

Country Report: Statistics Last updated: 20/05/25

Author

Swiss Refugee Council Visit Website

Overview of statistical practice

The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) publishes detailed statistics on the number of asylum applications and types of decisions on a monthly and a yearly basis. SEM statistics include figures on the application of the Dublin Regulation.[1]

Based on the yearly statistics provided by the SEM, the figures below, especially the asylum and temporary admission rates, are the result of a calculation methodology that differs from that used by the Swiss authorities. The Swiss Refugee Council (SRC) calculates recognition rates based only on the number of decisions on the merits rendered by the SEM at first instance, without considering the inadmissibility decisions or the “radiations” cases for the total of decisions, insofar as these do not include an examination on the merits of these asylum claims.[2]

 

Applications and granting of protection status at first instance: figures for 2024 regarding the ten countries of origin with the highest number of applicants

  Applicants in 2024 Pending at

end of 2024

Total decisions in 2024 Asylum status[3] Temporary admission[4]
Total 27,740 11,921 30,420 10,390 6,063
Afghanistan 8,627 1,242 11,158 5,679 3,625
Türkiye 4,107 3,953 5,828 1,953 152
Algeria 2,110 203 1,131 8 1
Eritrea 2,093 463 2,124 1,257 378
Syria 1,438 522 1,438 624 551
Morocco 1,289 114 747 1 6
Somalia 766 386 735 119 334
Tunesia 659 95 504 1 7
Iraq 559 346 469 63 79
Sri Lanka 455 294 427 87 27

 

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

  Overall rejection rate In merit rejection rate Overall protection rate In merit protection rate Asylum status Temporary admission rate
Total 46% 31% 54% 69% 47% 21%

Breakdown by the ten countries of origin with the highest number of applicants out of the total number

Afghanistan 17% 1% 83% 99% 69% 30%
Türkiye 64% 59% 36% 41% 38% 3%
Algeria 99% 97% 1% 3% 2% 0%
Eritrea 23% 12% 77% 88% 69% 19%
Syria 18% 4% 82% 96% 53% 43%
Morocco 99% 97% 1% 3% 1% 3%
Somalia 38% 6% 62% 94% 26% 67%
Tunesia 98% 95% 2% 5% 1% 4%
Iraq 70% 52% 30% 48% 22% 26%
Sri Lanka 73% 66% 27% 34% 27% 8%

  

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

  Adults Children
Accompanied Unaccompanied
Number 14,648 10,453 2,639
Percentage 53% 38% 10%

 

  Men Women
Number 18,529 9,211
Percentage 67% 33%

Source: SEM, asylum statistics (7-20), available here  and data provided by the SEM, April 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 21,888
(30,420 incl. non-entry decisions)
100% 2,978 100%
Positive decisions 16,453 75% 147

(thereof 106 referrals back to the SEM)

5%
(3.6%)
  • Asylum status
10,390 47% / /
  • Temporary admission
6,063 28% / /
Non-entry, abandonment / / 950 32%
Negative decisions 6,845
(13,967 incl. non-entry decisions)
31% 1,881 63%

 

 

 

[1] SEM, asylum statistics, available here.

[2] This calculation method is also used by the Organisation ‘Vivre Ensemble’, available here.

[3] SEM, asylum statistics (7-20), available here.

[4] SEM, asylum statistics (7-20), 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