Despite the refugee crisis – fewer are expected to Sweden

The number of migrants to Europe is increasing sharply – but fewer are expected to apply to Sweden both this year and next.

In its new forecast, the Swedish Migration Agency expects 13,000 people to seek asylum in Sweden this year, and the same number in 2024.

Previously, the agency assumed that it would be 14,000 people.

If the figure of 13,000 is correct, it also means a real reduction compared to last year, when 16,700 people sought asylum in Sweden.

In Europe, the number of asylum seekers has simultaneously hit a record. In the first half of the year, over half a million asylum applications were received – an increase of almost 30 percent compared to the corresponding period last year and the highest number since the refugee crisis in 2015.

The number of people applying for work permits in Sweden is also expected to decrease slightly. The assessment is that around 49,000 will apply for a work permit for the first time this year, compared to just over 65,000 in 2022.

Almost 75 percent of those who apply for asylum in Sweden are rejected and have to leave Sweden. The number who travel independently is estimated at 4,300 people this year, and around 3,800 next year.