Decrease in asylum applications from unaccompanied minors in 2024

Switzerland recorded 2,639 asylum applications from unaccompanied minors (UAMs), representing 9.5% of all asylum requests, a decrease of nearly 40% compared with 2023. The decline is mainly due to a significant reduction in migration flows from Afghanistan, Turkey, and Syria toward Central and Western Europe. Most UAMs who arrived in Switzerland in 2024 were from Afghanistan (1,295), followed by Somalia (217), Algeria (214), Morocco (202), and Guinea (111). Although Afghans continued to make up almost half (49%) of all unaccompanied minor asylum seekers, their number fell by about 53% from the 2,774 registered in 2023. The age group 16–17 years accounted for 76.2% of UAMs, followed by 13–15 years (22.2%) and 8–12 years (1.4%). Nearly 95% of the applicants were male. These statistics are based on the age declared by asylum seekers upon arrival at a federal asylum center. Experience shows that around one-quarter of those claiming to be minors are later determined to be over 18 years old after verification. As a result, the final number of asylum applications from UAMs in 2024 is expected to be significantly revised downward.