For the first time, citizens of Cuba led asylum applications in Brazil in 2025, surpassing the Venezuelans, who occupied the first position for consecutive years. The data is the result of the study Refuge in Numbers 2026, prepared by the Observatory of International Migrations (OBMigra), which works in partnership with the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. The report was released this Monday (22).
Not totally, 75,599 asylum requests were made in the country throughout 2025by the most diverse nationalities, which represents an increase of 10.9% compared to the previous year. The volume is the third largest in the historical series, behind only 2018 and 2019.
According to the survey, the recent growth in requests is part of a movement towards the resumption of migratory flows after the Covid-19 pandemic, with progressive increases since 2022 (50,355 requests), through 2023 (58,628) and 2024 (68,159).
Cubans responded to 41,919 requests in 2025, equivalent to 55.4% of the total, an increase of 88.1% compared to 2024. Next appear the citizens of Venezuela (21,233)from Colombia (1,432).
Check out the list of the main asylum-seeking countries in 2025:
- Cuba – 41.919
- Venezuela – 21.233
- Colombia – 1,432
- Angola – 1.253
- Morocco – 888
- Gana – 792
- Congo – 707
- Bangladesh – 665
- Dominican Republic – 525
- Tunisia – 475
- China – 443
- Nigeria – 327
- Lebanon – 277
- Peru – 269
- Haiti – 262
- Guinea – 233
- Mauritania – 228
- Togo – 194
- Argentina – 192
- Russia – 189
- Others – 3,096
Regarding the geographic distribution of applicants, the study shows that the largest portion of Cubans (57.6%) is concentrated in the states of Roraima and Amapá. To a lesser extent, comprising approximately 27.7% of immigrants, the states of Santa Catarina, Paraná and São Paulo emerge.
The report also relates part of the increase in requests to Cuba’s economic and political context, marked by internal difficulties, blackouts and external tensions, including measures adopted by Donald Trump’s government related to the oil blockade on the island.
