Langues

Facts and figures

Several hundred young migrants arriving alone in Switzerland each year. How many are they ?

The issue of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum (RMNA) developed in Switzerland in the 1990’s. The number of asylum applications increased sharply in ten years, reaching more than 15,000 unaccompanied minors staying in Switzerland in 1999. That number then dropped to vary from about 200 to 600 new asylum applications per year between 2006 and 2011.

In 2014, 795 asylum applications were filed in Switzerland by unaccompanied minors (81.3% male and 18.7% female). * In 2015, as in other European countries, this figure more than tripled in Switzerland when 2'736 new asylum applications were lodged by unaccompanied minors, with 29% aged under 16 *.

This increase requires the cantons to implement various measures to support the UAM for accommodation, supervision, education and training. The contributions of civil society are essential for the care of these minors.

Source: State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) – for official statistics and updates on unaccompanied minor asylum seekers in Switzerland