Sweden has witnessed a dramatic 30% reduction in asylum applications between 2024 and 2025, a direct consequence of stringent new immigration laws enacted by its centre-right government. This sharp decline marks a significant shift for a nation once celebrated for its open-door refugee policy.
A Policy Shift Drives Dramatic Decline
The substantial drop follows the 2022 election of a coalition government, supported by the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, which pledged to implement a tougher stance. For decades, Sweden was viewed as a European bastion of compassion, offering some of the continent's most generous support schemes. However, rising gang violence, partly linked to high migration levels over the past ten years, fuelled public demand for change.
Speaking at a press conference, Swedish Migration Minister Johan Forssell stated that asylum requests have plummeted by 60% since the government took office. "In 2025, the number of asylum seekers to Sweden continued to decline. It's a sharp decrease. A 30% drop in just one year," Forssell told reporters.
Key Measures and Incentives
The government has introduced a suite of measures designed to restrict immigration. These include enhanced financial incentives for voluntary returns, with immigrants eligible to receive up to 350,000 Swedish kronor (approximately £28,000) from 2026 if they go back to their country of origin. The authorities have also tightened the conditions for obtaining citizenship and for family reunification.
Official data from the Swedish Migration Agency underscores the transformation. In 2025, Sweden granted 79,684 residence permits, with only 6% for asylum-related reasons. This contrasts sharply with 2018, when 133,025 permits were issued and 18% were asylum-related. Meanwhile, 8,312 people left Sweden to return to their homeland last year.
Future Reforms and European Context
Further reforms are planned ahead of the parliamentary elections on 13 September. The government is exploring potentially revoking Swedish citizenship from dual nationals convicted of crimes. It is also considering deporting migrants who fail to adhere to standards of "honest living," a vaguely defined concept that has drawn criticism.
Minister Forssell emphasised the change is not merely quantitative but qualitative: "The change isn't just about numbers... it's also about the way that's made up, who is coming to Sweden with the proportion from asylum at a record low."
This policy realignment mirrors a broader European trend. The European Parliament approved texts to tighten continental migration policy in December. Following a similar path, Germany has seen illegal immigration drop to its lowest level in over a decade, barring the pandemic year. From January to November 2025, Germany recorded 106,298 first-time asylum applications, a figure less than half the 229,751 recorded in 2024.
