Over two-thirds of refugee children arriving in Europe in 2025 were unaccompanied, many faced exploitation
In 2025, more than 20,000 out of 31,100 refugee and migrant children arriving in Cyprus and other European countries were unaccompanied, according to a joint report by UN agencies IOM, UNHCR, and UNICEF. Despite a 25% overall decline in child arrivals, the proportion of those traveling alone increased to 67%. Many children reported experiencing physical violence, including torture, kidnapping, and forced labor, with Libya identified as a frequent location of abuse.
The report highlights that poverty, conflict, and environmental hazards drive children to make dangerous sea crossings, exacerbated by shrinking safe migration routes. Italy and Spain saw the highest percentage of unaccompanied child arrivals, reaching 86%, with Italy observing a 12% increase largely from countries like Egypt and Somalia. The agencies emphasize the need for enhanced cooperation to dismantle smuggling networks exploiting these vulnerable groups.
Resettlement of refugee children in Europe fell sharply in 2025, with only 3,400 children in procedures and a 67% drop in relocations under the EU’s Voluntary Solidarity Mechanism, which saw no unaccompanied children relocated. Officials stress upgrading tracking systems to better manage and protect foreign nationals entering the region.
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