More than 20,000 children who reached Europe through migration routes last year were travelling without a parent or legal guardian, according to United Nations agencies warning about the dangers faced by children making the journey alone.
The agencies said more than 31,100 migrant children arrived by land and sea in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain during the year. About 67 percent were unaccompanied, up from 51 percent in 2024.
Although the overall number of children arriving in the six countries fell by 25 percent compared with the previous year, the growing proportion travelling alone has raised concerns about their exposure to abuse and exploitation.
Boys accounted for 78 percent of the children who arrived, while girls made up 22 percent.
Amy Pope, Director General of the International Organization for Migration, said children face greater risks when safe and legal routes are unavailable, and they have to depend on smugglers to reach Europe.
The IOM said its findings also highlighted the dangers migrants face during the journey. Among 4,600 migrants aged between 15 and 24 who were interviewed, nearly half said they had experienced physical violence while travelling towards Europe.
Libya was the location most frequently identified by those reporting violence.
The UN agencies urged European Union countries to make the safety and best interests of children a central consideration when dealing with young migrants.
They also called for children to receive timely access to essential services and stressed that minors should not be detained for immigration purposes.
The warning comes as children continue to use dangerous migration routes to reach Europe, often travelling without parents or other adults who can protect them from violence, exploitation and abuse.