Chapter 5 Table 3 | New and appeal applications registered | 2013-2018 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018* States 870,700 1,401,700 2,063,900 1,941,700 1,661,500 1,906,400 UNHCR 203,200 245,700 269,400 208,100 263,400 227,800 Jointly** 5,800 12,900 17,800 26,300 24,300 11,500 Total 1,079,700 1,660,300 2,351,100 2,176,100 1,949,100 2,145,600 % UNHCR only 19 15 11 10 14 11 * Provisional figures. ** Refers to refugee status determination conducted jointly by UNHCR and governments. New individual asylum applications registered 71 By receiving country 72 As in 2017, the United States of America continued to be the largest recipient of new asylum applications, with 254,300 registered during 2018 [Figure 17].73 While this was a decrease compared with 2017 (331,700), it was similar to 2016 (262,000). As in previous years, El Salvador was the most common nationality of origin of applicants for asylum during 2018 with 33,400 claims, a decrease on the 49,500 submitted in 2017 and about the same as 2016 (33,600). Also, as in 2017, Guatemalans were the next largest group with 33,100 new applications. Venezuelans became the third most common nationality of applicants for asylum during 2018 with 27,500 applications, reflecting the continued deterioration of conditions in the country.74 This was followed by applicants from Honduras with 24,400 applications and Mexicans (20,000). As in previous years, applicants from Central America and Mexico made up about half of all applications (54 per cent). Other countries from which there were significant applicants for asylum in 2018 included India (9,400) and China (9,400). Overall, claims were received from applicants from 166 countries or territories. As a result of the crisis in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the number of asylum applications increased sharply in Peru, which became the second largest recipient of asylum applications globally with 192,500. Nearly all such claims were submitted by Venezuelans (190,500). In 2017, by contrast, Peru received 37,800 asylum claims and 4,400 in 2016. Germany continued to experience a decline in the number of new asylum applications received with 161,900 and became the third largest recipient of new 42 asylum claims. This compared with 198,300 in 2017, as well as the peak of 722,400 in 2016. As in previous years, Syrians made up the largest number of asylum claims with 44,200 although this declined to 27 per cent as a proportion of all claims. Also, as in 2017, Iraqis were the second most common nationality of origin with 16,300 claims in 2018, although this constituted a decline from the 21,900 in 2017. The number of applications from Iranians increased in 2018 to 10,900 to become the third most common nationality. Of note is the decrease in applications from Afghans: While there were 127,000 such applications in 2016, there were only 9,900 in 2018. Other nationalities with significant numbers of new asylum-seekers in Germany were Nigeria (10,200), Turkey (10,200), Eritrea (5,600) and Somalia (5,100). The fourth largest recipient of new asylum claims in 2018 was France with 114,500 registered, a 23 per cent increase on 2017. Unlike previous years, applicants from Afghanistan were the most common with 10,300 new applications, compared with 6,600 in 2017. Albanians were the next most common nationality with 8,300 claims, followed by Georgia (6,800), Guinea (6,700), Côte d’Ivoire (5,300) and Syria (5,000). 71 Figures quoted in this section relate to new asylum applications lodged at the first instance. Appeal, court, repeat, or re-opened applications are excluded, to the extent possible. 72 The number of applications reported for a country is based on individuals, with cases multiplied by an inflation factor when provided. Any further analysis by country of origin is based on individuals and cases, as inflation factors are not provided by country of origin. 73 Estimated number of individuals based on the number of new affirmative asylum cases (96,600) and multiplied by 1.501 to reflect the average number of individuals per case (Source: US Department of Homeland Security) and the number of defensive asylum applications (109,300 individuals) (Source: US Department of Justice). 74 The actual number of Venezuelan new asylum-seekers is likely significantly higher. Venezuelans are disproportionately more likely to submit affirmative asylum claims through the Department of Homeland Security (96 per cent of all claims) which reports to UNHCR claims by cases that often include more than one person rather than defensive claims through the Department of Justice which are reported by individuals. In contrast, 23 per cent of Salvadoran new asylum claims, 29 per cent of Guatemalan claims and 23 per cent of Honduran claims were submitted through the Department of Homeland Security. unhcr > Global trends 2018