Number of people illegally in EU grew 22% in 2021 - Eurostat

FILE PHOTO: A group of migrants walks to a Red Cross tent after disembarking from a Spanish coast guard vessel, in the port of Arguineguin, in the island of Gran Canaria, Spain November 22, 2021. REUTERS/Borja Suarez

(Reuters) - The number of people found to be illegally present in the European Union increased by 22% to reach nearly 700,000 in 2021, according to European statistics office data released on Thursday.

Syrians made up the largest number, followed by Algerians and Afghans. The number of Afghans increased by about 55% compared with 2020, following the takeover of the country by the Taliban in August.