Asylum applications in Germany decreased by 34% in 2024, according to the Interior Ministry, indicating a notable reduction from the previous year.

The data, released on Tuesday, shows 213,499 asylum requests, down from 322,636 in 2023. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser welcomed the decline, emphasizing that government actions, such as stricter border controls, are effectively addressing migration.

Public anxiety about migration has increased due to violent incidents involving immigrants, including a fatal knife assault and a car-ramming that claimed eight lives in recent months.

These events have fueled rising support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is now polling in second place.

Moreover, illegal arrivals have decreased by nearly one-third, with 83,572 recorded in 2024 compared to 127,549 the year before.

In light of growing concerns about migration, Germany reintroduced immigration checks at its land borders last September, a decision that has drawn criticism from neighboring countries.

Last week, Friedrich Merz, the leader of the conservative CDU, advocated for stricter border controls, including limits on family reunifications, though a proposed bill for these measures was ultimately rejected by parliament.

These migration-related topics have ignited intense debates and protests as Germany approaches its national election on February 23.