54 Nigerians applied for asylum in Denmark

A total of 54 Nigerians sought asylum in Denmark between 2024 and 2025, according to official figures obtained from the Danish Immigration Service.

Data contained in the agency’s Latest Figures on Residence Report dated December 31, 2025, showed that 30 Nigerians applied for asylum in 2024, while the number declined to 24 in 2025, representing a 20 per cent year-on-year decrease.

A breakdown of the 2025 figures indicates that applications by Nigerians remained low throughout the year.

Four applications were recorded in January and November; two each in February, March, June, August, September, October and December; one each in May and July; while no applications were recorded in April.

Compared with other African countries, Nigeria ranked relatively low.

Eritrea recorded the highest number of asylum applications among African nations in 2025 with 247, up from 230 in 2024.

Morocco followed with 61 applications, down from 81, while Algeria recorded 46, up from 41.

Uganda had 45 applications, an increase from 34, and Somalia recorded 42, slightly above the 41 recorded in 2024.

Globally, Eritrea also topped the list of source countries in 2025 with 247 applications, followed by Afghanistan (192), Syria (150), stateless persons (119), Turkey (100), Iran (92), Pakistan (82), Russia (66), Morocco (61) and Ukraine (60).

Overall, Denmark received 1,959 asylum applications in 2025, a 16 per cent decline from the 2,333 recorded in 2024.

The country’s asylum recognition rate fell to 38 per cent in 2025, its lowest level in six years, compared with 55 per cent in 2024 and 72 per cent in 2023.

Denmark is known for operating one of Europe’s strictest asylum systems.

Asylum is granted under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention to individuals fleeing persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group.

Protection may also be extended to those at risk of torture, the death penalty or inhumane treatment, as well as temporary protection for persons fleeing widespread violence.

However, Denmark has steadily tightened its immigration policies over the past decade. In 2019, it became the first European country to revoke residence permits for Syrian refugees, citing improved conditions in parts of Syria.

The government has also pursued policies aimed at reducing asylum applications to zero, including proposals for offshore processing.

The country’s asylum system has recently drawn renewed attention following comments by United States President Donald Trump expressing interest in acquiring Greenland, an autonomous territory under Danish sovereignty—an idea firmly rejected by Danish authorities.

The report also showed that Denmark revoked or declined to extend asylum permits for 42 people in 2025, down from 48 in 2024. Syrians accounted for the highest number of revocations with 18 cases, followed by Iranians with six, and Eritreans and Afghans with four each.

No Nigerian was listed among those whose asylum permits were revoked.

In total, Denmark granted asylum to 875 people in 2025, slightly higher than the 859 recorded in 2024.

Of this number, 464 were granted convention refugee status, 358 were admitted as quota refugees, 31 received protection status, and eight were granted temporary protection.