Malta received 545 first-time and repeat asylum applications in 2025, marking a 22.3% decrease compared to the previous year, according to new figures from the International Protection Agency (IPA).During the year, the agency granted protection to 198 people, while 303 applications were rejected at first instance.The number of pending asylum decisions also declined. By the end of 2025, there were 1,415 cases awaiting a first-instance or final decision, representing a 5.5% decrease from 2024.Meanwhile, Malta issued 355 temporary protection decisions throughout the year.Despite the drop in asylum applications, the population residing in open centres increased. As of the end of 2025, 211 people were living in open centres, up 9.3% from the previous year.The figures provide a snapshot of Malta’s asylum system over the past year, showing fewer new applications and a modest reduction in pending cases, alongside a rise in the number of people residing in open accommodation facilities.What do you make of these figures?•