Author
Overview of statistical practice
The 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 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: 2019
|
|
Applicants in 2019 |
Pending at end 2019 |
Asylum |
Temporary admission |
Rejection |
Asylum rate |
Temp. Adm. rate |
Rejection rate |
|
Total |
14,269 |
8,377 |
5,551 |
5,021 |
3,949 |
38% |
35% |
27% |
|
Breakdown by countries of origin of the total numbers
|
||||||||
|
Eritrea |
2,899 |
527 |
2,797 |
714 |
567 |
67% |
17% |
14% |
|
Afghanistan |
1,397 |
994 |
374 |
1,374 |
83 |
20% |
73% |
4% |
|
Turkey |
1,287 |
1,598 |
633 |
45 |
164 |
71% |
5% |
18% |
|
Syria |
1,100 |
901 |
654 |
1,243 |
183 |
30% |
58% |
9% |
|
Algeria |
826 |
118 |
3 |
3 |
203 |
1% |
1% |
44% |
|
Sri Lanka |
721 |
749 |
307 |
85 |
548 |
31% |
9% |
56% |
|
Georgia |
601 |
114 |
0 |
15 |
301 |
0% |
4% |
72% |
|
Iraq |
550 |
447 |
105 |
289 |
144 |
18% |
49% |
24% |
|
Iran |
539 |
719 |
112 |
86 |
323 |
20% |
15% |
57% |
|
Somalia |
427 |
207 |
170 |
382 |
74 |
26% |
58% |
11% |
Source: SEM, Asylum Statistics 2019, available at: https://bit.ly/2HwScSx.
Gender/age breakdown of the total number of applicants: 2019
|
|
Number |
Percentage |
|
Total number of applicants |
14,269 |
100% |
|
Men |
9,013 |
63% |
|
Women |
5,256 |
37% |
|
Children |
5,934 |
42% |
|
Unaccompanied children |
441 |
3% |
Source: SEM, Information provided on 12 February 2020.
Comparison between first instance and appeal decision rates:
In the period from 1 March 2019 to 29 February 2020, the Federal Administrative Court revoked 15% of the negative decisions issued by the determining authority under the new procedure and subject to appeal for additional investigative measures, whereas this rate was 6.5% for decisions under the former system. The Court points out that the majority of these cases concerned failures to establish the facts relating to the grounds for asylum but also the investigation of medical problems. Concerning decisions on the merits, 6% of all appeals lodged during the same period under the new procedure were partially or totally admitted by the Court.[3]
[1] SEM, Statistiques en matière d’asile, available at: http://bit.ly/2DnrgAV.
[2] This calculation method is also used by Vivre Ensemble, available at: https://bit.ly/3akVNPW.
[3] TAF, Asile: le TAF respecte globalement les nouveaux délais, 23 March 2020, available (in French) at: https://bit.ly/3dPZZK4.