Official figures showed nearly 55,000 migrants were handed refugee status or another type of permission to stay in Britain in the year to December.
It was up 35% on the previous 12 months but 14% below the peak seen in 2023.
Eritreans made up the largest group with just under 8,700 successful asylum claims, followed by Sudan with 7,000 and Iran with 6,900.
The figures only cover those granted asylum by the Home Office at the initial decision stage, and do not include those who successfully appeal against a refusal in the immigration courts which had a backlog of 70,000 cases at the last count.
There were 46,497 illegal arrivals into the country in 2025, up 7% on the previous year.
It included 41,472 by small boat across the Channel – a figure which was already known from daily updates published by the Home Office – with the rest coming by ‘clandestine’ routes such as stowing away in the backs of lorries.
Small boat arrivals were up 13% on 2024 but lower than the peak of 45,772 seen in 2022.
Statistics also showed the total number of asylum claims lodged in the year was 101,000, a 4% fall on the previous year but still at a near-record level.
The total number of claims to receive an initial decision from the Home Office hit an all-time high of more than 135,000, meaning the proportion of those granted was 42%, down from 47% the previous year.
A record number of asylum claims – just over 80,000 – were rejected by the Home Office, a significant 75% jump on the previous year.
The rise indicates a large number of unfounded claims are being lodged by migrants, although after initial rejection many go on to bring lengthy appeals.
The number of migrants receiving taxpayer-funded support dipped at the end of last year, including those given full-board accommodation in hotels.
Data showed there were 107,003 people receiving state support, a 5% fall year-on-year and 14% below the peak of almost 124,000 in September 2023.
Of those, 31,000 were in hotels, 19% lower than a year previously....<<<Read More>>>...
