Producing harmonised and comparable high quality European statistics is the main objective of the European Statistical System (ESS), which unites the national statistical institutes of the EU Member States with those of the EFTA States, as well as Eurostat.

The total number of asylum applicants in the four EFTA countries reached almost 39’000 in 2012. This represents an increase of roughly 17% compared to one year before. In 34% of all cases a positive decision was granted in first instance.