According to recent data released by the Swedish Migration Agency under its “Asyl” program, a total of 6,460 African nationals from 32 different countries applied for asylum in the country over the past year.
This figure includes both first-time applicants and individuals seeking to extend their temporary residency, highlighting the ongoing reliance on Sweden’s asylum system by many who view it as a haven of safety and opportunity amidst uncertain futures.
Over the past decade, Sweden has seen a steady stream of asylum seekers from African nations such as Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo—countries where violence, persecution, and weak state structures often force citizens to seek protection abroad.
Sweden tightens immigration
Despite these figures, Sweden issued only 6,250 asylum-linked residence permits to all nationalities in 2024; the lowest number since 1985.
Over the past two decades, the number of foreign-born residents in Sweden has doubled, now making up about a fifth of the country’s 10.5 million population.
Asylum-related residency permits peaked in 2016 at over 86,000, following the 2015 migration crisis.
Since then, Sweden has tightened its immigration policies, influenced by the rise of the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, now the second-largest party. Human rights groups have criticized the government for scapegoating immigrants and undermining civil liberties.
Notably, to qualify for asylum, applicants must demonstrate a credible fear of persecution due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Applicants must also qualify under extraordinary humanitarian circumstances.
However, authorities may deny or revoke protection for individuals who pose a security threat or have committed serious crimes.
These policies mark a significant departure from Sweden’s historically open approach to asylum.
Sweden: Africa’s new asylum frontier
The stricter criteria and reduced social support have significantly impacted acceptance rates, especially for applicants from African nations, many of whom now face greater uncertainty in their pursuit of refuge in Sweden.
According to data from the Swedish Migration Agency’s immigration portal, the table below presents the top 10 African countries with the highest number of asylum applications submitted in Sweden in 2024.
| Rank | Country | Total Applications |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Eritrea |
2,692 |
|
2 |
Somalia |
1,316 |
|
3 |
Ethiopia |
597 |
|
4 |
Nigeria |
375 |
|
5 |
Sudan |
257 |
|
6 |
Uganda |
255 |
|
7 |
Morocco |
173 |
|
8 |
Egypt |
165 |
|
9 |
The Gambia |
107 |
|
10 |
Burundi |
106 |
East Africa’s Eritrea topped the list with 2,692 asylum applications: 359 first-time requests and 2,333 extension applications.
Somalia followed with a combined 1,316 applications, including 191 new applicants and 1,125 seeking to extend their stay. Ethiopia recorded 597 applications (181 first-time, 416 extensions), while Nigeria had 375 applications in total (239 new and 136 extensions).
Other African countries with notable numbers include Uganda (255 total), Sudan (257), Egypt (165), Morocco (173), Burundi (106), and The Gambia (107).
These figures highlight a steady flow of African migration to Sweden, often driven by conflict, persecution, or economic hardship.
