Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia Top the List of Asylum Seekers in Latvia This Year
From January to September, Latvia received 1,210 first-time international protection applications from third-country nationals. Citizens of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia submitted the most.
In the first nine months of this year, from January to September, Latvia received a total of 1,210 first-time applications for international protection, commonly known as asylum, from third-country nationals. Third countries are those that are not members of the European Union. The figures show which countries asylum seekers in Latvia come from most often.
The three most common countries of origin
The largest number of applications came from Afghan citizens, with 250 over the nine months. Of these, 110 were received in June, the most in any single month.
Citizens of Pakistan rank second, with 195 first-time applications. Another 135 applications came from citizens of Somalia.
Who is applying
Of all 1,210 first-time applications, 1,140 were submitted by men. This means the great majority of asylum seekers this year have been men.
Who can request international protection
A person can apply for international protection if they have left their homeland and believe they face a serious threat there. Such a threat may be persecution, human rights violations or war. The person is seeking safety in another country.
The number of applications shows how many people have sought protection, but it does not show how many will receive it. The source does not say how many applications have been approved or rejected.
