The European Migration Network has published the updated Inform Statelessness in the European Union, Norway, Georgia and Serbia. The publication provides a comprehensive overview of developments in the field of statelessness across participating EMN Member and Observer Countries, covering the period up to 31 October 2025.
The Inform builds on previous editions published in 2016, 2020 and 2023, and reflects legislative, policy and practical developments that have taken place since the last edition. This updated version also includes, for the first time, information from Serbia as an EMN Observer Country, broadening the scope of information exchange on statelessness-related issues.
Statelessness refers to a situation where a person is not considered a national by any State under the operation of its law. It can affect access to fundamental rights and services, including healthcare, education, legal employment, civil registration, property ownership or the possibility to open a bank account.
According to UNHCR data, there were approximately 4.4 million stateless people worldwide in mid-2025. At the end of 2024, the number of stateless persons and persons of undetermined nationality in the EU was estimated at around 340,000. The Inform also notes that comparable data remain difficult to collect, as countries use different sources and methods to identify and record statelessness.
A notable addition to this edition is a new chapter on statelessness in the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. It examines how statelessness considerations are reflected within the framework of the Pact and outlines recent developments in this area.
The publication also comes at a symbolic moment, as the EMN Platform on Statelessness approaches its 10-year anniversary. Established in 2016 following the JHA Council Conclusions, the Platform continues to support knowledge exchange and cooperation among EMN Member and Observer Countries on statelessness across Europe.
The EMN inform “Statelessness in the European Union, Norway, Georgia and Serbia” is available in the Publications section on the EMN website.