Nigeria has emerged as the leading source of asylum seekers in Ireland, according to figures released by the country’s Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
Asylum refers to the protection granted by a country to individuals fleeing persecution in their home nations. An asylum seeker is someone who has applied for this protection and awaits a decision on their refugee status.
The latest report, published in August, shows Ireland is experiencing a decline in new asylum applications. Authorities recorded 1,164 applications in July 2025, down from 1,735 in July 2024, marking a significant slowdown in fresh claims.
Between January and July 2025, asylum applications totalled 7,207, a 42 percent drop compared to 12,236 recorded in the same period last year.
Nigeria tops the list of countries of origin with 1,083 applications, followed by Pakistan (945), Somalia (933), Afghanistan (767) and Georgia (462).
“The number of applications pending in the IPO has been reducing since the end of September 2024, when it stood at 23,863. As of July this year, there were 18,323 applications pending,” the department reported.
It added that compared to last year, there has been “an increase in the number of applications where the IPO made a recommendation or otherwise closed off a case.” In July 2025, 1,755 cases were closed, compared to 1,294 in July 2024.
The department clarified that the figures, extracted on August 8, are operational and may be updated as cases continue to be processed.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom is facing record-high asylum numbers, with nearly 89,000 applications lodged in the year to June 2025, and a backlog of over 224,000 cases awaiting decisions or appeals.
