Pakistani Nationals Lead UK Asylum Applications in 2024-25

Recent data released by the Home Office indicates that Pakistani citizens constituted the highest number of asylum seekers in the United Kingdom during the 2024-25 period.

The Home Office reported that Pakistanis represented 11,048 individuals, which is equivalent to 10.1% of all asylum applicants during the specified timeframe.

Overall, the UK received 109,343 asylum applications up to March 2025, marking the highest figure recorded in any 12-month span since record-keeping commenced in 2001. This represents a 17% surge from the 93,150 applications received in the year ending March 2024, as per Home Office statistics.

In the 2023-24 period, Pakistanis were the third most frequent nationality among asylum seekers, accounting for 7.5% of the total, with 7,003 applications submitted.

The previous high was 108,138 in the 12 months to December 2024. While asylum requests in the UK have reached a new apex, the pending caseload awaiting adjudication has decreased to its lowest point since 2021.

Migrants entering the UK via small boats across the English Channel comprised 33% of the total asylum claimants in the year leading up to March.

Afghans were the second most prevalent nationality among asylum applicants during the same period, with 8,069 individuals (7.4% of the total), a decrease from 9,738 (10.5%) in 2023-24, when they were the most numerous.

Alongside Pakistan, Syrian nationals accounted for a substantial rise in asylum claims in 2024-25, with 6,175 applications (5.6% of the total), compared to 4,232 (4.5%) in 2023-24.

The data further reveals that 109,536 individuals were awaiting an initial decision on their asylum applications in the UK at the close of March 2025.

This figure shows a 12% decline from 124,802 at the end of December 2024, representing the lowest tally since December 2021.

The total peaked at 175,457 at the end of June 2023, which was the highest figure since current records began in 2010.

The number of individuals awaiting an initial decision for over six months was 67,373 at the end of March, a decrease from 73,866 at the end of December and significantly lower than the peak of 139,961 in June 2023.

Separate Home Office figures released on Thursday indicate a slight reduction in the number of quarterly enforced returns of individuals without the right to remain in the UK, from 2,365 in October-December 2024 to 2,312 in January-March 2025.

Both figures surpass any other quarter since 2018.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper commented: “We have substantially strengthened immigration enforcement, undertaking robust measures to return more foreign offenders and unsuccessful asylum seekers who lack the right to be in the UK.

“The efforts of Immigration Enforcement teams in significantly increasing raids on illegal employment, returns, and deportations constitute a vital aspect of reinforcing our border security. As part of the Immigration White Paper reforms, we will reinforce the regulations to facilitate the return of a greater number of foreign national offenders.”