Austria saw a dramatic 58% drop in asylum applications in 2024 compared to 2023, with just 24,941 applications filed. This is a sharp fall from the 60,000 in 2023 and over 110,000 in 2022, marking an 80% decrease in two years. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner credited stricter policies but emphasized that the work is far from over.
In December 2024, 1,828 asylum applications were submitted, with Syrians making up the largest group. Across Europe, asylum numbers fell by 10%, though some countries like Poland (+79%) and Italy (+16%) reported increases. Austria currently ranks ninth in asylum requests per capita.
Deportations rose slightly, with 13,307 carried out in 2024—a 3.2% increase from the year before. Of these, 52% were forced deportations, while 48% were voluntary departures. Nearly half of those deported had prior criminal convictions.
Austria issued 34,285 negative asylum decisions in 2024 while granting protection in 24,457 cases. Success rates were especially low for applicants from Morocco (0.5%), Georgia (0.4%), and India (0.2%). The government fast-tracked over 1,300 negative decisions within 28 days.
Tighter border controls have also reduced illegal crossings. In Burgenland, police recorded just 5,178 cases in 2024, down from 29,793 in 2023 and 81,101 in 2022.
Austria’s policies reflect a push for stricter migration control, sparking debate on how to balance compassion with security.
