More than 50 young asylum seekers have died in UK since 2015, data shows

Figures gathered from children’s services and health trusts show 31 deaths were suicides, including six in under-18s More than 50 young asylum seekers in the UK have died in the past decade, the majority by suicide, according to data compiled for the first time. Of 54 deaths of unaccompanied children and young people who claimed asylum between 2015 and 2024 in the care system, 31 were suicides, seven were homicides and eight were fatal accidents. Six deaths were due to health issues and in two cases the cause of death was unknown. Forty-four of the 54 deaths have occurred since 2020. The data shows 2024 was the worst year for deaths, with seven suicides and seven other deaths. The information was collected by Da’aro Youth Project, which supports young asylum seekers. All local authority children’s services departments in England, Scotland and Wales and all health and social care trusts in Northern Ireland were approached for data using freedom of information requests. The Home Office and Department for Education refused to provide this data. Since 2024, the Office of the Information Commissioner has issued five separate decision notices finding that Home Office wrongly withheld inf