Pakistan has become the leading source of asylum seekers in the United Kingdom for the year 2024, overtaking countries like Afghanistan, Syria, and Iran, according to the latest figures released by the UK government. The shift suggests changing global migration patterns as the UK faces an unprecedented rise in asylum claims.
Authorities reported that 84,200 people applied for asylum in the UK in 2024—more than triple the yearly average of 27,500 seen between 2011 and 2020. The rapid surge has placed significant strain on the asylum system, with tens of thousands of applications still awaiting decisions.
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Responding to the growing backlog, Prime Minister Keir Starmer revealed that talks had begun with unnamed countries to set up offshore return centres. These would be used to relocate individuals whose asylum requests have been fully reviewed and denied.
By the close of 2024, around 224,700 asylum cases remained unresolved. Of these, 87,200 were awaiting a first decision, while the remaining 137,500 involved follow-ups after initial rejections. Although the backlog has reduced slightly since 2022, it remains four times higher than in 2014 due to slow processing and complex deportation procedures.
Initial rejection rates rose sharply in 2024, with 53 percent of claims denied—up from 24 percent in 2022. However, past records show that around three-quarters of rejected applicants appeal, and about a third of those succeed.
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The UK also increased removals of failed asylum seekers, deporting over 9,000 individuals in 2024—marking a 36 percent jump from the previous year.
Meanwhile, the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats has continued to rise. By the end of 2024, 148,000 people had taken this dangerous route, and most applied for asylum. In 2025, more than 13,000 have already made the journey, surpassing last year’s early figures.
