The UK Home Office reported that, for the year ending in March 2025, Pakistani nationals topped the list of asylum applications in the United Kingdom, with 11,048 individuals applying.
The number represents 10.1% of the total 109,343 applicants, marking the highest 12-month total since records began in 2001. This reflects a 17% increase from 93,150 applicants in the year ending in March 2024. However, the asylum backlog has decreased to its lowest level since December 2021.
The 109,343 asylum seekers in 2024-25 surpassed the previous record of 108,138 from the 12 months ending December 2024. Pakistani applicants rose significantly from 7,003 (7.5%) in 2023-24, when they ranked third, to the top nationality. Afghan nationals followed with 8,069 applicants (7.4%), down from 9,738 (10.5%) in 2023-24, while Syrian claims increased to 6,175 (5.6%) from 4,232 (4.5%), reflecting a 46% surge. Small boat arrivals across the English Channel accounted for 33% of claims, totaling approximately 36,000 individuals.
UK Asylum Backlog and Processing
The Home Office noted a 12% reduction in the asylum backlog, with 109,536 people awaiting an initial decision by March 31, 2025, down from 124,802 in December 2024—the lowest since December 2021. Of these, 67,373 waited over six months, a decrease from 73,866 in December and well below the June 2023 peak of 139,961. The decline follows a 52% increase in decision-making in late 2024, driven by efforts to clear cases post-Illegal Migration Act amendments, as Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated.
The number of asylum applications in the UK has hit a new high, though the backlog of cases waiting for a decision has fallen to its lowest level since 2021
✍️: @ian_a_jones https://t.co/SxgEdhtGU3
— PA Media (@PA) May 22, 2025Quarterly enforced returns of individuals without legal status slightly decreased from 2,365 (October–December 2024) to 2,312 (January–March 2025), yet these figures remain the highest since 2018. Cooper emphasised intensified immigration enforcement, including raids and deportations, to strengthen border security. She announced plans for Immigration White Paper reforms to streamline returns of foreign national offenders, aiming to enhance public safety and reduce illegal presence.
The surge in Pakistani asylum seekers, up 58% from 7,003 in 2023-24, reflects shifting migration patterns. The backlog reduction signals improved Home Office efficiency, but 109,536 pending cases still strain resources. As of December 2024, 38,079 asylum seekers were housed in hotels, up 7% from September. The government plans to close nine more asylum hotels by March 2026 to cut costs.
The record-high asylum applications highlight the UK’s appeal as a refuge, while the backlog’s decline offers hope for faster processing. Cooper’s enforcement push and policy reforms aim to balance humanitarian obligations with border control.
