Since March 2022, 21 EU countries and all EFTA countries provided data on unaccompanied minors fleeing from Ukraine.

Of the EU countries for which data are available, Austria (2.255), the Netherlands (1.705) and Lithuania (1.635) have granted the most temporary protection statuses, in absolute terms, to unaccompanied minors since March 2022. Belgium comes in fourth position, having granted temporary protection status to 1600 unaccompanied minors between March 2022 and September 2024. In relative terms, the highest share of unaccompanied minors in the total number of children granted temporary protection was recorded in Croatia (12.9%). 

Eurostat highlighted that children represented 32.3% of beneficiaries of temporary protection at the end of September 2024. The share of decisions granted to children increased significantly, rising from 26.2% in the second quarter of 2024 to 31.1% in the third quarter of 2024, a notable increase of 4.9 %. This represents the highest quarterly share of children receiving temporary protection since the second quarter of 2022.

For further details, please read this press release from Eurostat and view statistics explained on temporary protection for persons fleeing Ukraine.