Asylum backlog during the Conservative 2019–2024 government
2018 → 2023 · 5 periods
↑ 259.2%+92,931 people
Asylum backlog rose by 259.2% over the period, from 35,855 people (2018, the level when the government took office) to 128,786 (2023, the last complete period before it left office).
Inherited level 2018: 35,855
Level when it left 2023: 128,786
method: latest complete period before start / before end
Changes during this period do not by themselves show what the government caused. Statistics reflect many influences, including earlier decisions, the economy and how the data is collected.
Published valueProvisional or revisedLatestOne point a year is drawn; the source publishes overlapping year-ending figures, and every one is in the history table and CSVShaded bands: governments (see labels)Hover or use arrow keys to read a value
Definition and caveats
The number of people (main applicants and their dependants) whose asylum claim was still awaiting an initial decision at the end of the period. This is a stock, not a flow.
Doesn’t measure: Cases awaiting an appeal decision, people whose claim has been decided but who have not left the UK, or the number of cases (main applicants only).