Fifty-four Nigerians applied for asylum in Denmark between 2024 and 2025, according to official data obtained by Sunday PUNCH from the Danish Immigration Service.
The data, contained in the ministry’s Latest-Figures-On-Residence Report (Seneste tal på opholdsområdet) dated December 31, 2025, showed that 30 Nigerians applied for asylum in 2024.
The figure dropped to 24 in 2025, representing a 20 per cent year-on-year decline.
The monthly breakdown for 2025 showed that Nigerian asylum applications remained low throughout the year, with four applications recorded in January, two each in February, March, June, August, September, and October, four in November, two in December, one each in May and July, and none in April.
Among African countries on the list, Eritrea recorded the highest number of asylum applications in 2025, with 247, up from 230 in 2024.
Morocco followed with 61 applications, down from 81 the previous year.
Algeria recorded 46 applications, up from 41 in 2024, while Uganda recorded 45, up from 34.
Somalia recorded 42 applications, marginally up from 41 in 2024.
Nigeria’s 24 applications placed it behind those countries, highlighting the relatively low number of Nigerians seeking refuge in the Scandinavian nation.
Globally, Eritrea topped the list of asylum source countries in 2025 with 247 applications, followed by Afghanistan with 192, Syria with 150, stateless persons with 119, Turkey with 100, Iran with 92, Pakistan with 82, Russia with 66, Morocco with 61, and Ukraine with 60.
Denmark received a total of 1,959 asylum applications in 2025, down 16 per cent from 2,333 in 2024.
The country’s asylum recognition rate, the proportion of applicants granted refugee status, fell sharply to 38 per cent in 2025, the lowest in six years, down from 55 per cent in 2024 and 72 per cent in 2023.
Denmark operates one of the strictest asylum systems in Europe.
Under Danish law, asylum may be granted to persons who qualify under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, which covers those fleeing persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership of a particular social group.
The country also grants protection status to those who risk torture, the death penalty, or inhumane treatment if returned to their home country, as well as temporary protection status for those fleeing generalised violence.
However, Denmark has progressively tightened its immigration policies over the past decade.
In 2019, it became the first European country to revoke residence permits for Syrian refugees, arguing that conditions in parts of Syria had improved sufficiently for safe return.
The government has also implemented policies aimed at achieving “zero asylum seekers,” including offshore processing proposals.
Denmark’s asylum policies have gained renewed international attention following United States President Donald Trump’s expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, an autonomous territory under Danish sovereignty.
Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of purchasing or acquiring Greenland, citing its strategic importance and natural resources. Danish officials have consistently rejected such overtures, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen describing Greenland as “not for sale.”
According to the report, Denmark revoked or refused to extend asylum permits for 42 persons in 2025, down from 48 in 2024.
Syrians accounted for 18 revocations, followed by Iranians with six, Eritreans and Afghans with four each. No Nigerian was recorded among those whose permits were revoked.
Denmark granted asylum to 875 persons in 2025, slightly up from 859 in 2024, with 464 receiving convention status, 358 admitted as quota refugees, 31 granted protection status, and eight receiving temporary protection.