16/05/2018 (Agence Europe) – According to Eurostat, in 2017 around 31,400 asylum seekers in the European Union were considered to be unaccompanied minors. "This was nearly half the number recorded in 2016 (63,200 unaccompanied minors registered) and almost one-third of the peak registered in 2015 (95,200)", but "over two and a half times higher than the annual average during the period 2008-2013", Eurostat states. Unaccompanied minors accounted for 15% of all asylum applicants aged under 18. The majority of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum were males (89%) and over two-thirds were aged 16 to 17 (77%, or about 24,200 people). Those aged 14 to 15 accounted for 16% of these unaccompanied minors (around 5,000 people) and those aged under 14 for 6% (almost 2,000 people). Afghans (17%, or around 5,300 people) continued to be the main nationality of asylum applicants considered to be unaccompanied minors in the EU. (SP)