In 2019, 13 800 asylum seekers applying for international protection in the 27 Member States of the European Union (EU) were considered to be unaccompanied minors, nearly 20% fewer than in 2018 (16 800), continuing the downward trend that started after the peak year 2015 (92 000).

As per Novinite.com quoting EU statistics, in 2019, at the EU level, unaccompanied minors accounted for 7% of all asylum applicants aged less than 18.
The majority of unaccompanied minors were males (85%). Two-thirds were aged 16 to 17 (9 200 persons), while those aged 14 to 15 accounted for 22% (3 100 persons) and those aged less than 14 for 11% (1 500 persons).
In 2019, every third unaccompanied minor in the EU was an Afghan citizen.
Afghanistan (30% of the total number of unaccompanied minors registered) was in 2019 the main country of citizenship of asylum seekers considered unaccompanied minors in the EU Member States.
Of the 4 200 Afghans considered to be unaccompanied minors in the EU, 3 in 5 applied in Greece (1 200), Belgium or Austria (600 each).
Afghans represented the most numerous citizenship in twelve EU Member States.