Children in exile: Nearly one in four asylum seekers in Europe is under 18

In 2025, EU member states recorded 158,400 asylum applications from individuals under 18, accounting for 23.7% of the total. Austria has the highest percentage of minor applicants at 57.3%. Among these children, nearly 21,000 are unaccompanied minors, representing 13.3% of first-time applicants. The most common nationalities are Afghan, Syrian, and Venezuelan.