International Migration

Question 1

How many migrants applied for asylum in Europe in 2015?

Answer 1

Over 1.3 million – the highest number since World War II.

Question 2

What were the top three source countries for migrants in 2015?

Answer 2

Syria (49%) – civil war

Afghanistan (21%) – ongoing conflict

Iraq (8%) – political instability and ISIS violence

Question 3

What were the main entry points into Europe during the 2015 crisis?

Answer 3

Greece (Lesbos Island) via Turkey

Italy via Libya and the central Mediterranean

Question 4

Which country received the highest number of asylum applications in 2015?

Answer 4

Germany – around 476,000.

Question 5

Which countries received high numbers of migrants relative to their population size?

Answer 5

Hungary, Sweden, and Austria.

Question 6

What were the main push factors in origin countries like Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq?

Answer 6

Civil war and violence

Persecution by ISIS and regimes

Poverty, unemployment, and lack of services

Question 7

What were the main pull factors to EU countries?

Answer 7

Safety and asylum

Economic opportunities and higher living standards

Family reunification and diaspora networks

Question 8

What were the positive socio-economic impacts on destination countries like Germany and Sweden?

Answer 8

Helped fill labour shortages (especially low-skilled jobs)

Young migrants offset ageing populations

Question 9

What were the negative socio-economic impacts on destination countries?

Answer 9

Pressure on housing, healthcare, and education

Public concern over integration and rising anti-immigrant sentiment

Question 10

What were the impacts on origin countries like Syria and Iraq?

Answer 10

Brain drain: loss of young, skilled workers

Economic stagnation due to declining workforce

Dependency on remittances

Question 11

What political shifts occurred in Europe due to the migration crisis?

Answer 11

Rise in populist and anti-immigration parties (e.g., AfD in Germany)

Strained EU relations over burden-sharing

Temporary suspension of the Schengen Agreement in some countries

Question 12

What were the environmental impacts of the 2015 migration crisis?

Answer 12

Overcrowded refugee camps strained water and sanitation infrastructure

Informal settlements caused land degradation and pollution

Question 13

How many Syrians fled the country by 2015?

Answer 13

Over 4 million.

Question 14

How many Syrian refugees were hosted by Lebanon and Turkey by 2015?

Answer 14

Lebanon: 1.1 million (25% of its population)

Turkey: 2.5 million

Question 15

How many migrants died crossing the Mediterranean in 2015?

Answer 15

Over 3,700 (UNHCR).