A total of 13,800 asylum seekers who applied for international protection in the EU, in 2019, were considered to be unaccompanied minors, according to the statistical office of the European Union - Eurostat.
The number of unaccompanied minors who sought international protection in the European Union, in 2019 decreased nearly 20 per cent, compared to 2018 continuing the downward trend, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
“In 2019, at the EU level, unaccompanied minors accounted for 7% of all asylum applicants aged less than 18. The majority of unaccompanied minors were males (85%). Two-thirds were aged 16 to 17 (9 200 persons), while those aged 14 to 15 accounted for 22% (3 100 persons) and those aged less than 14 for 11% (1 500 persons),” the statement reads.
Two in three unaccompanied minors in the EU in 2019 were citizens of Afghanistan (30 per cent), Syria and Pakistan (both 10 per cent) as well as Somalia, Guinea or Iraq (5 per cent each).
Last year, the largest number of asylum applicant who was considered to be unaccompanied minors registered in Greece (3,300 unaccompanied minors, or 24 per cent of all those registered in the EU), followed by Germany (2 700, or 19 per cent), Belgium (1 200, or 9 per cent) and the Netherlands (1 000, or 8 per cent).
“Among the Member States with more than 500 asylum seekers considered to be unaccompanied minors in 2019, the highest increases compared with the previous year were recorded in Austria (500 more, or +120%) ahead of Belgium (500 more, or +63%), Greece (700 more, or +26%) and Slovenia (100 more, or +21%),” the Eurostat statement reads.
According to the Eurostat report, there has been a decrease for unaccompanied minors whos sought asylum in Italy (3 200 fewer unaccompanied minors in 2019 than in 2018, or -83 per cent) and Germany (1 400 fewer, or -34 per cent).
The largest number of unaccompanied minors during 2019 was recorded in Slovenia ( 80 per cent), followed by Bulgaria (72 per cent), Slovakia (70 per cent) and Romania (35 per cent).
The main number of applicants who sought asylum in the EU, in 2019, were Afghans (30 per cent), followed by Syrians and Pakistans.
SOURCE: Schengen Visa Info
