Europe granted asylum to 710,400 migrants last year — double the number in 2015, according to European Union figures released Wednesday.
The increase comes amid a sharp decline in the number of refugees attempting to reach Europe since a deal last year between the EU and Turkey closed a major route.
Of those granted asylum last year, 405,600 were Syrians, according to EU statistics. They were followed by 65,800 Iraqis and 61,800 Afghans. More than 70% of the Syrians were given asylum in Germany, which also took in the most asylum seekers, 445, 201.
The EU granted asylum to 333,350 people In 2015.
More than 1 million people filed asylum claims last year in the 28 EU nations. The vast majority of successful applications were from people fleeing conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa. Those just looking for jobs were likely denied asylum.
Asylum rates ranged from less than 5% for citizens of western Balkan countries to 98% for Syrians, according to the EU. The United Nations estimates that about 400,000 people have died and millions have fled since Syria's civil war erupted six years ago.
There are 2.2 million Syrian refugees in Turkey, 1.2 million in Lebanon and almost 630,000 in Jordan, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a watchdog group.
Since the start of this year, 44,059 migrants have reached Europe, most by taking hazardous trips across the Mediterranean Sea between Libya and Italy. About 1,100 people have drowned this year, according to the IOM. In 2016, the death toll in the Mediterranean was more than 5,000, the highest ever, according to the U.N.
Asylum approval can take months, or even years.
Not represented in the survey: refugees from the conflict in Yemen, which the IOM said has become the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Nearly 19 million people need assistance, and 3.3 million people were forced to flee.
The United States admitted 84,995 refugees last year, 39,000 from predominantly Muslim countries, according to the Pew Research Center. The Democratic Republic of Congo had the highest number of refugees entering the U.S., 16,370, followed by Syria, 12,587.
As President Trump has sought to impose a temporary ban on all refugees entering the U.S., State Department data show that refugee admissions dropped in March to 2,070. In January, when Trump took office, 6,777 were admitted. In February, 4,580 were allowed in. Federal courts have blocked the ban from taking effect.
SOURCE: USA Today
