Archive · 9 Jan 2026
Sweden Sees 40-Year Low in Asylum Applications
Sweden has seen the lowest number of people asking for asylum in 40 years.
The government says this is because they made rules stricter and gave people reasons to leave.
They plan to make the rules even stricter this year.
Not as many people are coming to Sweden for asylum now compared to before.
The government wants fewer people to come and more to leave.
They will vote for a new government in September.
Asylum applications in Sweden dropped by 30% in 2025 to the lowest level since 1985.
The government attributes the drop to tightened asylum rules and incentives for immigrants to leave.
Asylum seekers and their family members made up just 6% of total immigrants in 2025, down from 31% in 2018.
The government plans to further tighten rules in 2025, including a new law to boost the number of returnees and tighter citizenship rules.
Swedes will vote in a general election in September 2025.
- Who
- Swedish government and Immigration Minister Johan Forssell
- What
- Asylum applications in Sweden dropped by 30% in 2025 to the lowest level since 1985
- When
- The drop occurred in 2025, with further tightening planned for 2025
- Where
- Sweden
- Why
- The government attributes the drop to tightened asylum rules and incentives for immigrants to leave the country
- Asylum applications drop
- 30% in 2025
- Lowest level since
- 1985
- Total immigrants (excluding Ukraine refugees)
- 79,684 in 2025
- Asylum seekers as percentage of total immigrants
- 6% in 2025
- Asylum seekers as percentage of total immigrants in 2018
- 31%
- Total immigration in 2018
- 133,000
- Upcoming election
- September 2025
- Government plans
- Further tighten asylum rules in 2025