While asylum seekers globally are on the rise, in Australia their numbers went down by 9 per cent in 2011, a report by the UN Refugee Agency released on Wednesday said.

The Asylum Levels and Trends in Industrialised Countries said the number of asylum seekers in Australia dipped to 11,510 in 2011 from 12,640 in 2010. Although a relatively small number, asylum seeking is a hot political issue in Australia and it even dominated national elections in 2010 due to the record number of refugees from Asia that arrived by boat.

The report explains the drop to a decline in number of asylum seekers from Afghanistan. UNHCR Regional Representative Richard Towel said the report indicates that the number of asylum seekers to Australia is modest and manageable.

While the number of asylum seekers in Australia declined, it went up by 20 per cent in other nations, fuelled by refugees from Libya and other north African nations bound for southern Europe. Those that came to Australia were mostly from Afghanistan, Iran and Sri Lanka using old ships from Indonesia. Their journey is considered perilous because of the number of deaths logged.

Despite the drop in asylum seekers, Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said the government would continue to be vigilant.

"While the number of asylum claims has fallen, it remains of the utmost importance that we do everything we can to deter people from risking their lives by undertaking dangerous boat journeys," Mr Bowen said.

"The Malaysia arrangement is the best way to do this, and (Opposition Leader) Tony Abbott should get out of the way and allow the government of the day to implement its border protection policies," he added.

The UNHCR asked Australia to work constructively and collaboratively with regional neighbours on the boat people problem.

"We are convinced that if people can be made safer and more secure in South East Asia then they will not need to place their lives in the hands of people smugglers and resort to dangerous boat journeys to Australia," Mr Towle said.