Fewer and fewer people are seeking asylum in Germany, according to reports in the nation's media, but experts say the data should be interpreted with caution.

On the weekend, the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported as yet unreleased data showing France received the EU's most applications for asylum — 40,871 — ahead of Spain (39,318) and Germany (37,387) in the first three months of 2025.

Though that data is unconfirmed by the EU Agency for Asylum (EUAA), a decline in applications to Germany has been evident in recent reports published by the bloc and the country's own Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).

This week, BAMF reported 10,647 applications filed in Germany for March, the lowest for any month since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Germany has long been the EU's top receiver of asylum seekers and remains so, according to the bloc's most recent annual analysis, though applications were down by a third in 2024 compared to 2023.

Across the EU, more than 1 million applications were received in 2024, down 11% year-on-year.

This includes a sustained downward trend in applications since October, largely due to fewer applications from Syrian, Afghan and Turkish nationals.

In a statement, the EUAA told DW it was "aware of the report in Welt am Sonntag. As the Agency doesn't comment on unauthorized disclosures we can't comment on, or confirm, the........

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