The United Kingdom has received a total of 22,619 asylum applications from Nigerian nationals between 2010 and 2024, according to newly released data from the UK Home Office. Nigerians accounted for one in every 30 asylum claims made during this 15-year period, placing them 11th among all nationalities seeking refuge in the UK.
The Home Office’s year-end Asylum and Resettlement Statistics revealed a sharp increase in applications from Nigeria in 2024 alone, with 2,841 individuals applying—nearly double the 1,462 recorded in 2023. The spike follows broader trends of rising global displacement, political unrest, and economic hardship.
Overall, the UK received 108,138 asylum requests in 2024, marking a 378% increase from 2010 and the highest annual figure on record. The majority of claims came from first-time applicants originating in South Asia and the Middle East.
Iran led the chart with a total of 75,737 asylum applications over the 15-year span, followed by Pakistan (57,621), and Afghanistan (54,363). Other countries among the top ten included Albania, Iraq, Eritrea, Syria, Bangladesh, Sudan, and India.
Bangladesh, notably, saw its own spike in 2024 asylum applications—rising from 5,097 in 2023 to 7,225—amid political instability following the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Nigeria’s position just ahead of Sri Lanka (22,059) and above countries such as Vietnam, China, and Turkey highlights the growing scale of migration pressures linked to insecurity, economic challenges, and governance concerns in West Africa.
With rising asylum claims from Nigerian nationals, UK immigration authorities face increasing pressure to balance humanitarian obligations with tighter border control measures. The trend also underscores the need for broader international efforts to address the root causes of forced migration.
