Nigeria Among Countries With Few Nationals Seeking Asylum in Norway
Nigeria is among the countries whose nationals have made relatively few asylum applications in Norway this year, according to the latest figures from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration, UDI.
UDI recorded just three asylum applications from Nigerian citizens between January and July 2026. The applications were lodged in February, March and April, with no applications recorded from Nigerians in January, May, June or July.
The figure places Nigeria well below several countries that have recorded substantially higher numbers of asylum seekers in Norway. During the same seven-month period, applicants from Colombia numbered 77, Afghanistan 50, Russia 28 and Palestine 24.
The Nigerian figure is also lower than the previous year’s total. UDI recorded 16 asylum applications from Nigerians throughout 2025, meaning applications during the first seven months of 2026 were already less than one-fifth of last year’s figure.
The figures, however, measure asylum applications rather than overall migration from Nigeria to Norway. They therefore do not indicate how many Nigerians travelled to Norway for education, employment, family reunification, tourism or other purposes.
Under Norwegian rules, asylum is available to people who are persecuted or face a risk of persecution or inhumane treatment in their home country. Applicants must be in Norway or at the Norwegian border to apply.
The relatively small number of Nigerian asylum applications comes as Norway continues to receive protection claims from nationals of countries affected by war, political instability and other forms of insecurity.
The data also offers a more nuanced picture of Nigerian migration to Europe: while Nigerians remain a significant migrant population internationally, seeking asylum in Norway appears to be a relatively uncommon migration route at present, based on the latest official statistics.
