The North West carries 1 in 5 people on asylum support. More than London.

18,962 people on asylum support in the North West at 30 June 2026. One in five nationally.

The region carries 20.3% of the UK supported population. London carries 12,140, or 13.0%. The West Midlands is third on 11,756.

Region	On asylum support	Share
North West	18,962	20.3%
London	12,140	13.0%
West Midlands	11,756	12.6%
Yorkshire and The Humber	8,164	8.8%
East Midlands	7,710	8.3%
North East	7,049	7.6%

The national total has fallen from 107,003 at the end of 2025 to 93,293. The North West share has not fallen with it. When the system contracts, it contracts fastest where placements were most recent, and the North West’s are not recent.

Why here. The prime accommodation provider for the North West is Serco, on a contract that runs to 2029. One company handles placement across the whole region. The Home Office contract decides where people go, and the council is told rather than asked.

Within the region the load is not spread evenly either. Four Lancashire authorities are among the nine highest in the country once you count per head of population, and none of them is Manchester or Liverpool. That list is in Four Lancashire authorities are in the national top nine.