The number of migrants crossing into Slovenia illegally more than doubled last year and figures continued to grow in the first half of 2024, but the latest police statistics show the trend has now stabilised.

Slovenian police processed a total of 25,786 irregular migrants in the first seven months of 2024, a 4% decrease year-on-year.

Syrians accounted for almost a third of all cases, with their number up more than tenfold, to 8,720. The number of intercepted Afghans decreased by almost a third to 3,711, while the figure for Turkish nationals rose by 120% to 2,186.

On the other hand, illegal entries by Moroccan (from 3,924 to 1,972), Bangladeshi (2,581 to 1,354), Pakistani (2,731 to 1,017) and Russian nationals (2,159 to 514) dropped substantially.

The Novo Mesto Police Department, in charge of the vast majority of the eastern border with Croatia that is part of the Balkan migration route, remained by far the busiest department. It accounted for 83% of all the recorded illegal entries.

The number of recorded smuggling cases increased from 197 to 308, with 337 individuals caught smuggling 1,927 illegal migrants. Detention orders were issued for 316 smugglers.

Fewer illegal migrants expressed their intention to request international protection in Slovenia this July compared to a year ago, and the total figure for the first seven months decreased by 3% year-on-year to 24,805.

By far the largest number this year have been Syrian nationals. The vast majority of the applicants quickly leave Slovenia, which has been the case for many years.

The number of asylum applications filed fell by 18% to 3,073. 3,619 cases were resolved in the first seven months of 2024, with 129 approved.

There were 574 asylum seekers accommodated at asylum centres in Slovenia on 14 August, while 1,177 migrants with approved protection status were living in the country on the same date.