In 2025, 158 400 first-time asylum applicants registered in EU countries were minors (persons under 18 years old), representing 23.7% of the total number of first-time asylum applications. Among those minors, 13.3% were unaccompanied minors, corresponding to 3.8% of the total number of first-time asylum applicants.
Across the EU countries, the share of minors in the total number of first-time asylum applicants was the highest in Austria (57.3%), Germany (44.9%) and Finland (31.2%).
The share of unaccompanied minors in the total number of first-time asylum applicants aged less than 18 years old was the highest in Slovenia (78.6%), Latvia (72.9%), Bulgaria (56.2%), the Netherlands (49.8%) and Lithuania (47.1%).
Source datasets: migr_asyappctza and migr_asyumacta
39% of minor first-time asylum applicants originated from Asia
In 2025, 39.0% of minors applying for asylum for the first time were from Asian countries, 27.3% from African countries, 18.2% from American countries and 13.9% from European (non-EU) countries.
The top 3 citizenships among minors seeking asylum were Afghans (16.9%), Syrians (13.0%) and Venezuelans (10.7%).
The share of unaccompanied minors in the number of minor first-time asylum applicants by continent was 27.4% for Africa, 9.4% for Asia, 8.1% for America and 3.1% for Europe.
In 2025, the most represented citizenship of unaccompanied minor asylum applicants in the EU were Afghans, making up 12.3% of all unaccompanied minors applying for asylum for the first time. They were closely followed by Eritreans (11.6%) and Syrians (11.5%).
Source datasets: migr_asyappctza and migr_asyumacta
119 435 minor asylum seekers were granted protection status in EU in 2025
In 2025, 201 900 first instance decisions on asylum applications lodged by minors were made in the EU, and a further 27 585 final decisions following an appeal or review. A total of 229 485 asylum decisions were issued.
Decisions made at first instance resulted in 112 835 minors being granted protection status, while another 6 600 minors received protection status after an appeal or review. Overall, EU countries granted protection status to 119 435 minor asylum seekers at the first and final instances in 2025.