The Dutch Refugee Council's annual statistical report, Refugees in Numbers, is currently only available for 2021. However, it also allows us to trace the dynamics and trends in the arrival of refugees in the Netherlands. The report is compiled on the basis of data from open sources, in particular, it uses data from IND, COA, CBS, Eurostat and UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees).
Global refugee situation
According to UNHCR, at the end of 2021, there were about 82,4 million displaced people in the world. Of them:
- 20,7 million people were under a UNHCR mandate, including approximately 288 people in a refugee-like situation.
- 5,7 million Palestine refugees under the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
- 48 million displaced persons.
- 4,1 million asylum seekers were awaiting a decision on their applications.
In 2021, the EU accepted 416 asylum applications, a third less than in 860. More than 2019% of refugees in the EU are hosted by France and Germany. However, the rest of the EU countries, including the Netherlands, bear a significant burden of receiving foreigners fleeing wars in Europe. The bulk of the refugees come from countries where there are bloody conflicts. So, in 40, 2019 people from Syria arrived in the EU countries. Despite fluctuations in refugee statistics over the years, the UN notes a general trend towards an increase in the number of displaced persons. In the period 63-455 The number of refugees in the world has doubled.
The refugee situation in the Netherlands
By 2021, the number of refugees accepted by the Netherlands has been gradually decreasing. Thus, in 2020, 13 asylum applications were accepted, which is 637 applications less than in 8860.
The top three countries of origin for refugees are:
- Syria - 4022 applications,
- Algeria - 993,
- Turkey - 989.
The number of residence permits in the Netherlands issued under the refugee family reunification program has also been declining: 3833 residence permits in 2020 against 4179 permits in 2019.
The question of how many refugees are in the Netherlands is ambiguous. The fact is that, according to the rules of the UNHCR, those who filed a petition and received a positive decision on it are considered refugees. Using this definition, at the end of 2020 there were 78 refugees in the Netherlands and 911 people awaiting a decision on their application. At the end of 11, there were 892 and 2019 such foreigners, respectively. At the same time, members of reunited families are included in the refugee statistics and those who applied for asylum but received a residence permit for other reasons (work, study, etc.) are excluded from it.
Why are there fluctuations in refugee statistics?
Refugee status in the Netherlands can only be granted to foreigners who are at significant risk in their home country. There is a list of so-called safe countries, from which it is almost impossible for people from which to obtain asylum in the Netherlands. In particular, until 2022, Ukraine was included in this list.
Depending on the situation in the world, the number of refugees accepted by the Netherlands also changes:
The number of asylum applications in the Netherlands is directly related to the aggravation of armed conflicts. It is also influenced by political decisions on recognizing regions as safe. May increase the number of refugees in the Netherlands and the decisions of other EU countries.
In 2022, the war began in Ukraine. At the beginning of May 2022, there are approximately 30 Ukrainians in the Netherlands who have been granted temporary protection status. This status does not correspond to the status of a refugee and has been granted until March 000, 4. Perhaps later the status will be extended. Some Ukrainians will be able to change their temporary protection status to refugee status or obtain a residence permit in the Netherlands for other reasons (marriage, work, study, etc.).
It is worth noting that during military crises, the number of minor refugees from conflict zones who arrive in the Netherlands without adult accompaniment is growing rapidly. Registration and placement of such foreigners requires a special approach and effort. The maximum number of such refugees was registered in 2000: then 6705 unaccompanied minors arrived in the country, which accounted for 15,4% of the total number of asylum applications.
Dutch refugee policy
Asylum in the Netherlands is governed by the Aliens Act 2000. Refugee status may be based on the risk of death or injury due to hostilities in the foreigner's country of origin, or the possibility of persecution on racial, religious, national, political or national grounds. social group, such as LGBT.
In addition, those refugees who are not eligible for status but are at risk of deportation will be able to stay in the Netherlands. We are talking about both the inhuman treatment that a refugee may be subjected to in his home country for escaping, and social grounds, for example, about a disease that cannot be cured qualitatively in the foreigner's home country.
More information on refugee statistics in the Netherlands can be obtained from link.
Ukrainians who arrived in the Netherlands due to Russian aggression can get important information in the "Ukraine" section of our Site.
Publication Date: 02.06.2022
