United States top the list of most attractive countries for asylum seekers
Main | 26 March 2009
For the second year in a row, an increasing number of people seeking refugee status in developed countries. The citizens of Iraq, Somalia and Russia are leading in the list of asylum seekers abroad. The most attractive country for seeking refugee status are the United States. This is a report prepared by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The authors note that in 2008 the number of people seeking refugee status in industrialized countries has increased by 12 per cent compared to 2007 - mainly due to increase in the number of petitions from citizens of Afghanistan and Somalia.
But the Iraqis are still the leaders in the list of asylum seekers abroad, while last year their number has decreased by 10% compared to 2007. The second and third place in the number of petitions for asylum in industrialized countries took the citizens of Somalia and Russia. They are Afghanistan, China, Serbia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Yemen and Mexico. The number of citizens of Russia, seeking political asylum in 2008 reached 20.5 thousand.
Overall in 2008 in 51 industrialized country have been registered 383 thousand new applications for asylum. The most attractive countries for refugees in 2008 were the United States, Canada, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, Greece, Switzerland and Norway.
For obtaining asylum in the United States in 2008, turned 49 thousand people. This is a 13% percent of all claims to refugee status in industrialized nations. However, the report draws attention to the fact that for every thousand residents of the U.S. accounted for an asylum seeker, while the European Union countries - 2.4 per thousand inhabitants of the applicant.
To date, there are more than 11 million refugees.
The authors note that in 2008 the number of people seeking refugee status in industrialized countries has increased by 12 per cent compared to 2007 - mainly due to increase in the number of petitions from citizens of Afghanistan and Somalia.
But the Iraqis are still the leaders in the list of asylum seekers abroad, while last year their number has decreased by 10% compared to 2007. The second and third place in the number of petitions for asylum in industrialized countries took the citizens of Somalia and Russia. They are Afghanistan, China, Serbia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Yemen and Mexico. The number of citizens of Russia, seeking political asylum in 2008 reached 20.5 thousand.
Overall in 2008 in 51 industrialized country have been registered 383 thousand new applications for asylum. The most attractive countries for refugees in 2008 were the United States, Canada, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Sweden, Germany, Greece, Switzerland and Norway.
For obtaining asylum in the United States in 2008, turned 49 thousand people. This is a 13% percent of all claims to refugee status in industrialized nations. However, the report draws attention to the fact that for every thousand residents of the U.S. accounted for an asylum seeker, while the European Union countries - 2.4 per thousand inhabitants of the applicant.
To date, there are more than 11 million refugees.
