UN agencies report rise in unaccompanied children arriving in Europe

A report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UNHCR, and UNICEF reveals a sharp increase in the proportion of unaccompanied children arriving in Europe. While overall child arrivals via land and sea routes decreased by 25% compared to 2024, the percentage of those traveling alone rose from 51% to 67%.

Of the 31,100 children who arrived in 2025, more than 20,000 were traveling without parents or guardians. This trend is most pronounced in Italy and Spain, where 86% of arriving children were recorded as unaccompanied. In Italy, the total number of arriving children increased by 12% to nearly 14,100, with many originating from Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia, Bangladesh, and Ethiopia.

IOM Director General Amy Pope stated that limited safe migration pathways are pushing children toward irregular routes and into the hands of smugglers, increasing their exposure to violence and exploitation. The report also noted a decline in refugee resettlement procedures, which dropped to 3,400 children in 2025 from 8,900 the previous year.