Ireland took some of the fewest numbers of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in the EU last year.

Just 5.9 per cent (35 out of the 63,300), of unaccompanied minors that were seeking asylum in the EU were registered in Ireland last year, according to Eurostat.

35 unaccompanied minors were also registered in Ireland in 2015 when the figure was five times higher than the annual average at almost 96,500.

Six in ten applied for asylum in Germany, the highest number of minor asylum applications which was 57pc of all those registered in the EU Member States.

This was closely followed by Italy with 10pc, Austria with 6pc and the United Kingdom with 5pc.

In contrast, the largest decreases were recorded in Sweden with -94pc, Hungary -86pc, Belgium - 64pc, the Netherlands -56pc and Austria -53pc

Over half of those who applied were Afghans and Syrians. Four out of 10 unaccompanied minors registered were Afghans, they made up 38pc of the total numbers and unaccompanied minors that were Syrians made up 19pc.

The data also reveals that 89pc of them were boys. Over two thirds of all unaccompanied minors were aged 16 to 17 years old. Those aged 14 to 15 accounted for 21pc and those aged less than 14 years old accounted for 10pc.

Other unaccompanied minors seeking asylum were from Iraq, Eritrea, Somalia, Gambia and Pakistan.

Online Editors