Asylum Support
This page presents data on asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support in the UK from 2014 to 2026, including accommodation type breakdown, top nationalities, total asylum system cost (a single combined figure covering both processing and support), cost per decision, caseworker headcount and productivity, and the decision backlog. Data is sourced from the Home Office Immigration System Statistics and Migration Transparency Data.
Total People on Support #
Number of asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support at the end of each quarter.
- Last sync:
- Source:
- GOV.UK | Asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support detailed datasets
- asylum-seekers-receipt-support-datasets-mar-2026.xlsx | (Data_Asy_D09)
Support Summary #
As of 2026 Q1, there were 97,519 asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support.
Of these, 20,885 were accommodated in hotels (down from 30,657 in 2025 Q4). The peak was 56,018 in 2023 Q3, and total support peaked at 123,758 in 2023 Q3.
Total Asylum System Cost #
Total annual cost of the asylum system by financial year. This is a single combined figure covering both processing (casework, decision-making) and support (asylum accommodation and subsistence) — the Home Office does not publish the two split out separately in ASY_04. Costs peaked at £5.38bn in 2023/24. The latest figure for 2024/25 is £4.76bn, down from £5.38bn.
- Last sync:
- Source:
- GOV.UK | Immigration and protection data (Migration transparency data)
- immigration-and-protection-data-jan-mar-2026.xlsx | (ASY_04)
Cost per Asylum Decision #
Average cost (in £) of concluding one asylum case in each financial year. Started at £15,415 in 2010/11, most recent figure is £25,122 in 2023/24.
- Last sync:
- Source:
- GOV.UK | Immigration and protection data (Migration transparency data)
- immigration-and-protection-data-jan-mar-2026.xlsx | (ASY_04)
Caseworking Staff #
Headcount of Home Office staff working on asylum casework, by financial year. Grew from 380 in 2011/12 to 2,219 in 2024/25.
- Last sync:
- Source:
- GOV.UK | Immigration and protection data (Migration transparency data)
- immigration-and-protection-data-jan-mar-2026.xlsx | (ASY_04)
Decisions per Caseworker #
Asylum decisions concluded per caseworker per year — the Home Office's own productivity measure for asylum casework. Was 14 in 2011/12, most recent figure is 7 in 2024/25.
- Last sync:
- Source:
- GOV.UK | Immigration and protection data (Migration transparency data)
- immigration-and-protection-data-jan-mar-2026.xlsx | (ASY_04)
Decision Backlog #
Number of asylum cases awaiting an initial decision, broken down by waiting time. The backlog peaked at 138,134 in 2023 Q2 and has since fallen to 36,868 in 2026 Q1.
- Last sync:
- Source:
- GOV.UK | Immigration and protection data (Migration transparency data)
- immigration-and-protection-data-jan-mar-2026.xlsx | (ASY_02)
Accommodation Breakdown #
Breakdown of asylum support by accommodation type over time. The data represents number of individuals, not number of properties. Hotels refers to contingency hotel accommodation. Contingency Other covers non-hotel contingency sites such as barges or former military bases. Dispersal is longer-term accommodation spread across the UK. Initial is short-term accommodation while claims are processed. Subsistence Only means financial support without accommodation.
- Last sync:
- Source:
- GOV.UK | Asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support detailed datasets
- asylum-seekers-receipt-support-datasets-mar-2026.xlsx | (Data_Asy_D09)
Top Nationalities - 2026 Q1 #
Top 15 nationalities of asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support as of 2026 Q1. The data represents number of individuals.
| # | Nationality | People | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iraq | 11,625 | 11.9% |
| 2 | Afghanistan | 10,634 | 10.9% |
| 3 | Iran | 7,755 | 8.0% |
| 4 | Syria | 6,594 | 6.8% |
| 5 | Pakistan | 5,194 | 5.3% |
| 6 | Somalia | 4,197 | 4.3% |
| 7 | Eritrea | 3,792 | 3.9% |
| 8 | Albania | 2,976 | 3.1% |
| 9 | Nigeria | 2,965 | 3.0% |
| 10 | Turkey | 2,546 | 2.6% |
| 11 | Bangladesh | 2,401 | 2.5% |
| 12 | Vietnam | 2,180 | 2.2% |
| 13 | Sudan | 2,140 | 2.2% |
| 14 | India | 2,127 | 2.2% |
| 15 | Sri Lanka | 2,073 | 2.1% |