Overview

• The number of asylum-related court cases in Germany surged to over 100,000 in 2024, up from 72,000 in 2023 and 62,000 in 2022, reversing a years-long decline.
• The increase is attributed to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees accelerating the processing of backlogged asylum applications, leading to more rejected applicants filing appeals.
• North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg recorded the highest case volumes, with Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern seeing the largest percentage increases since 2022.
• Despite efforts to reduce delays, 12 states still report average case durations exceeding 10 months, far above the six-month target set by the Ministerpräsidentenkonferenz.
• Calls for additional judges and specialized asylum chambers have intensified to address the growing caseload and prevent further strain on administrative courts.