Over half a million non-native individuals have been granted asylum assistance.
At the year's end, approximately 522,700 foreign individuals gained access to standard assistance under Germany's Asylum Seekers Benefits Act, as per Destatis's recent disclosure. This figure represents an approximately 8% surge compared to the previous year. Interestingly, the number of beneficiaries saw a dramatic 22% climb in 2022. The aforementioned assistance caters to essential daily requirements.
Males accounted for 66% of these beneficiaries, with females making up the remaining 34%, according to Destatis's data. Nearly one-quarter (28%) of recipients were minors, while adjacently, a substantial 70% fell within the 18-64 age bracket. Approximately 1% were aged 65 and above.
The majority of these beneficiaries hailed from Asia (49%), with Europe following closely behind at 31%, and Africa deserving a 15% share. The leading origins were Syria and Turkey, with 15% each, followed by Afghanistan (11%) and Iraq (8%). By the end of 2023, Ukraine accounted for 5% of all beneficiaries.
The Commission's proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from ionising radiation could potentially benefit asylum seekers who work in industries exposed to such radiation. The adoption of this directive is crucial to ensure the safety and health of all workers, including asylum seekers.
