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Facts & Figures |
Facts and figures about asylum seekers and refugees
When talking to people about asylum seekers and refugees it is useful to have some facts at hand.
We have put together some facts and figures, with their sources, and some links to help when engaging with those with different points of view.
12 facts and figures about refugees and asylum seekers
1. What is the difference between an asylum seeker and a refugee?
In international law, a Refugee is a person who has fled their country to escape conflict, violence, or persecution and has sought safety in another country. Under UK law, "Refugee Status” is only given to those whose claim for asylum has been approved. An Asylum Seeker is someone who is seeking protection and whose claim has not yet been concluded.
2. Is it illegal to claim asylum?
It is not illegal to claim asylum; it is a human right enshrined in the 1951 Refugee Convention. Britain played a leading role in shaping and drafting the 1951 Refugee Convention, including recognising that people fleeing persecution often have valid cause for irregular entry.
Is it wrong to use the term ‘illegal migrant’?
The United Nations General Assembly, International Organization for Migration, Council of Europe, and European Commission have all deemed the phrase 'illegal migration' unacceptable, recommending instead the term 'irregular.'
3. Do you have to claim asylum in the first country you land in? International law does not mandate claiming asylum in the first safe country encountered.
4. What proportion of immigrants to the UK claim asylum? In 2025 this figure was 11% (88,000 out of 813,000). [House of Commons Library]
5. What proportion of refugees come to the UK? The UK is home to approximately 1% of the 41.6 million refugees who have been forcibly displaced across the world [Refugee Council]. 65% of refugees are hosted in neighbouring countries [UNHCR]. Compared with other European countries, the UK received the 5th largest number of asylum seekers in the year ending December 2025 (100,625), and the 15th largest intake when measured per head of population. [Refugee Council]
6. What is the make up of asylum seekers and what countries do most asylum seekers come from? In the year ending March 2026, 16% were children, 22% were women and 62% were men. [Gov.UK] The top five countries of origin of people seeking asylum were Pakistan, Eritrea, Iran, Sudan and Afghanistan. [Refugee Council]
7. What will stop people making dangerous journeys? We need more safe legal routes such as those available to people from Hong Kong and Ukraine.
8. How many people are granted asylum? Around 4 in 10 claims are approved at the initial decision stage. Around two-thirds of appeals result in refusals being overturned. [Refugee Council]
9. How many asylum seekers are still in hotels? At the end of June 2026, 93,293 people seeking asylum were being supported by the Government. Of those, 16,021 (17%) were living in hotels, half as many as at the end of June 2025. [Refugee Council]
10. How much money do asylum seekers receive from the government? People living in asylum accommodation receive £9.95 per week, or £49.18 if no food is provided. [Gov.UK] This must cover all their expenses, including toiletries, clothing/shoes, transport, mobile data, household items, etc.
11. What proportion of housing is allocated to asylum seekers and refugees? Only 2 in 100 housing allocations are made to refugees. [Gov.UK] Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing. [Chartered Institute of Housing] There is no obligation for councils to house single people, only those with children.
12. How many asylum seekers are there in Hertfordshire? (pop 1.24 m)
There were 772 asylum seekers hosted in Hertfordshire as of September 2026 [Strategic Migration Partnership Report], that is 6.2 per 10,000. [Asylum stats]
Further sources:
Facts about refugees
Guides to talking to people about immigration
The human stories
Here are stories from our own work with refugees:
Forced to Flee
Refugee Stories
Refugee Voices
Page last updated September 2026
We have put together some facts and figures, with their sources, and some links to help when engaging with those with different points of view.
12 facts and figures about refugees and asylum seekers
1. What is the difference between an asylum seeker and a refugee?
In international law, a Refugee is a person who has fled their country to escape conflict, violence, or persecution and has sought safety in another country. Under UK law, "Refugee Status” is only given to those whose claim for asylum has been approved. An Asylum Seeker is someone who is seeking protection and whose claim has not yet been concluded.
2. Is it illegal to claim asylum?
It is not illegal to claim asylum; it is a human right enshrined in the 1951 Refugee Convention. Britain played a leading role in shaping and drafting the 1951 Refugee Convention, including recognising that people fleeing persecution often have valid cause for irregular entry.
Is it wrong to use the term ‘illegal migrant’?
The United Nations General Assembly, International Organization for Migration, Council of Europe, and European Commission have all deemed the phrase 'illegal migration' unacceptable, recommending instead the term 'irregular.'
3. Do you have to claim asylum in the first country you land in? International law does not mandate claiming asylum in the first safe country encountered.
4. What proportion of immigrants to the UK claim asylum? In 2025 this figure was 11% (88,000 out of 813,000). [House of Commons Library]
5. What proportion of refugees come to the UK? The UK is home to approximately 1% of the 41.6 million refugees who have been forcibly displaced across the world [Refugee Council]. 65% of refugees are hosted in neighbouring countries [UNHCR]. Compared with other European countries, the UK received the 5th largest number of asylum seekers in the year ending December 2025 (100,625), and the 15th largest intake when measured per head of population. [Refugee Council]
6. What is the make up of asylum seekers and what countries do most asylum seekers come from? In the year ending March 2026, 16% were children, 22% were women and 62% were men. [Gov.UK] The top five countries of origin of people seeking asylum were Pakistan, Eritrea, Iran, Sudan and Afghanistan. [Refugee Council]
7. What will stop people making dangerous journeys? We need more safe legal routes such as those available to people from Hong Kong and Ukraine.
8. How many people are granted asylum? Around 4 in 10 claims are approved at the initial decision stage. Around two-thirds of appeals result in refusals being overturned. [Refugee Council]
9. How many asylum seekers are still in hotels? At the end of June 2026, 93,293 people seeking asylum were being supported by the Government. Of those, 16,021 (17%) were living in hotels, half as many as at the end of June 2025. [Refugee Council]
10. How much money do asylum seekers receive from the government? People living in asylum accommodation receive £9.95 per week, or £49.18 if no food is provided. [Gov.UK] This must cover all their expenses, including toiletries, clothing/shoes, transport, mobile data, household items, etc.
11. What proportion of housing is allocated to asylum seekers and refugees? Only 2 in 100 housing allocations are made to refugees. [Gov.UK] Asylum seekers are not eligible for social housing. [Chartered Institute of Housing] There is no obligation for councils to house single people, only those with children.
12. How many asylum seekers are there in Hertfordshire? (pop 1.24 m)
There were 772 asylum seekers hosted in Hertfordshire as of September 2026 [Strategic Migration Partnership Report], that is 6.2 per 10,000. [Asylum stats]
Further sources:
Facts about refugees
Guides to talking to people about immigration
The human stories
Here are stories from our own work with refugees:
Forced to Flee
Refugee Stories
Refugee Voices
Page last updated September 2026
