Some key messages from the data :

• Compared to the period 2008-2013, the number of unaccompanied minors almost doubled in 2014 to reach slightly more than 23 000 persons, then nearly quadrupled in 2015.
• A substantial majority of unaccompanied minors were males (91%) and over half were aged 16 to 17 (57%, or 50 500 persons), while those aged 14 to 15 accounted for 29% (25 800 persons) and those aged less than 14 for 13% (11 800 persons).
• Around half (51%) of asylum applicants considered to be unaccompanied minors in the EU in 2015 were Afghans and more than half were registered in Sweden. Afghans were followed by Syrians representing 16% of the total number of unaccompanied minors.
• Four in ten applied for asylum in Sweden, followed by Germany (16%), Hungary (10%) and Austria (9%) which is equal to three-quarters for all applications registered.
• The largest share of unaccompanied minors among young asylum seekers were recorded in Italy (56.6%), followed by Sweden (50.1%), United Kingdom (38.5%), the Netherlands (36.5%), Denmark (33.7%), Finland (33.2%) and Bulgaria (33.1%). In total in the EU, unaccompanied minors accounted for almost a quarter (23.0%) of all asylum applicants aged less than 18 in 2015.

Please read the full press release below and find additional press releases on the Eurostat website.