Brussels [Belgium], April 29 (ANI/WAM): In 2022, European Union (EU) countries granted protection status to 384,245 asylum seekers, up by 40 per cent compared with 2021 (275,040), according to data published by Eurostat today.

Among the 384,245 asylum seekers who were granted protection status in 2022 in the EU, 44 per cent received refugee status, 31 per cent were given subsidiary protection, and 25 per cent received humanitarian protection. Compared with 2021, the number of refugee status granted increased by 22 per cent, subsidiary protection was up by 48 per cent, and humanitarian protection registered the highest increase with 72 per cent.

Also Read | Operation Kaveri: Another Flight Carrying 231 Indian Passengers From Conflict-Torn Sudan Reaches New Delhi (Watch Video).

The highest number of people who received protection status was reported by Germany (159,365, 41 per cent of the EU total), ahead of France (49 990, 13 per cent), Italy (39, 660, 10 per cent), and Spain (35, 765, 9 per cent). Together, these four countries granted 73% of the protection requests at the EU level

The largest group who obtained protection status in the EU in 2022 were Syrians (29 per cent of the total number of people granted protection status in the EU). They were followed by Afghans (23 per cent) and Venezuelans (6 per cent). (ANI/WAM)

Also Read | Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis Unveils Statue of Maratha Warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Mauritius (See Pics).

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)