World Immigration News

(InfoMigrants)Denmark, Sweden: Stricter immigration policies lead to historic low migration

Release Date: 2026-01-12
Media: InfoMigrants
Summary: Migration to Denmark and Sweden fell to historically low levels in 2025 as both countries implemented stricter immigration and asylum policies, reflecting a broader European shift toward tighter migration controls.

Denmark approved only 839 asylum applications by the end of November 2025, the lowest level in decades, out of 1,835 applications filed. The government, led by the Social Democrats, continues to pursue a “zero refugee” approach aimed at minimizing asylum inflows through restrictive policies that have been shaped by anti-immigration sentiment for over 20 years.

Sweden also saw a sharp decline, with asylum applications dropping by 30 percent in 2025 compared with the previous year and by about 60 percent since the current government took office in 2022. The center-right government, supported by the Sweden Democrats, has tightened migration rules, expanded incentives for voluntary returns, and strengthened citizenship and family reunification requirements. Asylum-related permits accounted for only 6 percent of all residence permits in 2025, down from 18 percent in 2018.

These developments in Denmark and Sweden mirror a wider European trend toward stricter asylum and immigration policies, reinforced by new EU-level measures approved in late 2025.
Tags: Europe

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