UN report: 67% of child migrants reaching Europe in 2025 traveled alone, up from 51% in 2024

A UN report released on October 7, 2026, revealed that in 2025, more than two-thirds of refugee and migrant children arriving in Europe via Mediterranean and Balkan routes were unaccompanied. The proportion rose to 67% from 51% in 2024, despite a 25% drop in overall child arrivals. Italy and Spain saw the highest rates, with 86% of children unaccompanied. The report, by IOM, UNHCR, and UNICEF, cited shrinking safe migration pathways as a key factor. It also highlighted widespread violence and exploitation, with Libya identified as a common location for abuses.