Since 2015
Migration crisis
Asylum reception, border management and the long tail of integration are funded from national budgets and the EU's own funds. The direct cost is measurable; the indirect side runs through housing scarcity, education capacity and long-run labour market effects that cut both ways.
Accrued this year
€48,728,209,416
€2,244 /sec
Per citizen
€108.53
€158 per year
Per household
€247.35
€359 per year
Cost timeline
Modelled yearly cost across the EU, 2015–2026.
Figures are EU-wide and divided equally across 449 million residents.
Direct costs
€42.3 bn/yrMoney that leaves a public budget or an invoice.
- Asylum reception and accommodation€31.0 bn
- Border management, Frontex and returns€6.5 bn
- Asylum procedures and legal processing€4.8 bn
Indirect costs
€28.5 bn/yrPrices, productivity and welfare effects citizens absorb.
- Pressure on housing markets€12.0 bn
- Education and language programmes€9.0 bn
- Healthcare and social services capacity€7.5 bn