Unaccompanied Child Migrants to Europe Rise to 67 Percent
The International Organization for Migration reports that unaccompanied children now make up 67 percent of child migrants reaching Europe, facing extreme risks of violence and exploitation.
A joint report by the International Organization for Migration, UNHCR, and UNICEF reveals that unaccompanied children comprised 67 percent of refugee and migrant children reaching Europe via Mediterranean and Balkan routes in 2025, up from 51 percent in 2024. While total child arrivals across Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, and Spain decreased by 25 percent to 31,100, more than 20,000 of those children arrived without a parent or guardian.
Italy and Spain recorded the highest proportions of unaccompanied minors, with 86 percent of arrivals in those countries traveling alone. The report attributes this trend to poverty, conflict, environmental hazards, and shrinking safe migration pathways, which force children to rely on smugglers. Furthermore, child refugee resettlement in Europe dropped from 8,900 in 2024 to 3,400 in 2025.
Safety risks remain severe, with nearly half of interviewed migrants aged 15 to 24 reporting physical violence, torture, or kidnapping, most frequently in Libya. The International Organization for Migration is urging European Union Member States to prioritize the best interests of children, ensure timely access to services, and end the detention of children for immigration purposes.
