Cyprus received record number of migrants especially from Syria, Nigeria and Congo in 2022

Cyprus recorded a record number of irregular migrants arrival to the county in 2022 with a total of 21,000 migrants, an increase of 82% compared to last year with majority of migrants coming from Syria, Nigeria and Congo.

Cyprus Interior Ministry said the country ranks first in Europe terms of migrant returns as regards population proportionality. Cyprus said it deported 7,500 migrant alone in 2022.

A Ministry source said Cyprus is struggling to manage an unprecedented situation that could neither have been predicted nor confronted easily.

The latest figures say it all, afterall, with 94% of the some 21, 000 irregular migrants that have arrived crossing through the divided island’s Green Line. And the remaining 6% coming via the sea.

At the same time, a total of 18,345 applications for political asylum were recorded by the end of October, compared to 10,083 in the same period last year, marking an increase of 82%.

The first country of origin of refugees and irregular migrants is Syria with 3,516 applications (19% of all applications) followed by Nigeria with 2,668 applications (15%).

Then comes migrants from Congo with 2,647 applications (14%), Pakistan with 1,747, Afghanistan with 1,259, and Bangladesh with 1,229; Cameroon 873, Somalia 862, India 581, Nepal 392 and other countries 2571.