２３年難民申請、１万３８２３人　前年比３．７倍増、水際緩和で―入管庁

　出入国在留管理庁は２６日、２０２３年に難民認定を申請した外国人が前年比３．７倍増の１万３８２３人だったと発表した。過去最多だった１７年（１万９６２９人）に次ぐ２番目の多さ。同庁は新型コロナウイルス感染症の水際対策が緩和され、新規入国者数が増加したことが要因と分析している。認定者数は前年比１．５倍増の３０３人で、過去最多となった。
　申請者の国籍別内訳は、スリランカが３７７８人（前年５０２人）で最も多く、トルコ２４０６人（同４４５人）、パキスタン１０６２人（同２３８人）と続いた。（2024/03/26-08:52）

The number of foreigners seeking refugee status in Japan in 2023 surged 3.7-fold from the previous year to 13,823, the second highest on record after 19,629 in 2017, the Immigration Services Agency said Tuesday.
   The number of those granted the status was a record 303, up 1.5-fold.
   The surge reflected an increase in the number of new arrivals after COVID-19 border control measures were lifted, according to the agency.
   By nationality, Sri Lankans accounted for the largest share of refugee status seekers at 3,778, up from 502, followed by Turks at 2,406, up from 445, and Pakistanis at 1,062, up from 238.
   Of the newly recognized refugees, 237, or the largest group, were from Afghanistan. The figure rose from 147 in 2022. The situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated since the Taliban Islamist group took over the country in 2021.