Gender/age breakdown of the total number of applicants: 2020 Number Percentage Total number of applicants Men Women 40,559 27,807 12,752 100% 68.56% 31.44% Children 14,490 35.73% Unaccompanied children 2,799 6.9% Source: Information provided by the Asylum Service, 31 March 2021. The figures on children and unaccompanied children are part of the figures on men and women. Comparison between first instance and appeal in-merit decision rates: 2020 First instance Appeal Number Percentage Number Percentage Total number of decisions 81,052 100 25,011 100 Positive decisions 34,325 42.35% 1,045 4.2% Refugee status 26,371 33% 481 1.92% 7,954 Not applicable 22,821 10% Not applicable 28% 564 370 15,751 2.26% 1.48% 63% Subsidiary protection Referral for humanitarian status Negative decisions (in merits) Source: Asylum Service 31/03/2021; Appeals Authority 09/02/2021. The remaining decisions taken by the Appeals Committees concerned appeals rejected as inadmissible on formal grounds (53 cases) or due to the application of the concept of safe third country or appeals filed after the expiry of the deadline etc. 5 5 Information provided by the Appeals Authority, 9 February 2021.