Whether crossing borders or on the move internally, unaccompanied and separated children are found along every migration and displacement route. Frequently driven from home by conflict, violence or disasters, tens of thousands of them have been identified in countries around the world. Children who travel alone often face severe deprivations and grave risks – both during their journeys and after reaching their destinations.
Yet many remain invisible and uncounted, due to a scarcity of data and evidence.
This brief by the International Data Alliance for Children on the Move (IDAC) calls for urgent global action to close these data gaps and strengthen evidence-based policies that uphold the rights of unaccompanied and separated children. Based on a 2025 literature review of more than 200 sources, it identifies key trends by age, gender, migration status and route, and other variables. It underscores the heightened risks and vulnerabilities these children face, illustrated by testimonials provided by youth who were once on the move and alone themselves.
While there are a number of challenges involved in producing quality data on unaccompanied and separated children, progress is possible with strong political will and coordinated commitments. By highlighting good practices from different contexts, the brief demonstrates how the global community can strategically build responsive statistical systems that both protect and empower children on the move without a parent or caregiver.
As an IDAC product, this publication was developed in collaboration with Eurostat, IOM, OECD, UNHCR and UNICEF. IDAC members – including NGOs and national statistical offices representing Greece, Italy and Serbia – provided key inputs, insights and good practices to help guide action and investment on this critical child rights issue.
