2,276

Irregular migrant arrivals drop 78.5% in the Canary Islands

A total of 2,276 migrants arrived irregularly in the Canary Islands up to April this year, representing a 78.5% decrease compared with the same period in 2025, when 10,562 people landed.

The figure comes from the bi‑weekly report released on Monday by the Ministry of the Interior on irregular immigration, consulted by Europa Press. It shows that these more than 2,200 migrants arrived on 27 vessels, 140 fewer than up to May of last year.

Across Spain, 7,923 migrants entered irregularly up to 30 April 2026, 43.2% fewer than the 13,953 arrivals recorded in the same period of the previous year.

The report also reveals that, so far this year, 5,759 migrants have arrived in Spain by sea, 57.1% fewer than the 13,412 arrivals recorded up to May last year. These migrants came on 212 vessels, 132 fewer than the year before.

By sea, 3,474 migrants reached the mainland (1,938) and the Balearic Islands (1,536), 22.1% more than the 2,846 arrivals in the same period of 2025. They arrived on 183 vessels, eight more than the previous year’s count.

• Migrants landing on the mainland by sea increased by 377 people (up 24.1%) compared with the 30 April 2025 total, arriving on 105 vessels (seven fewer than in 2025).
• The Balearic Islands saw 251 additional migrants (up 19.5%) compared with the same period in 2025, arriving on 78 vessels (15 more than the 1‑30 April 2025 figure).

Regarding the Spanish enclaves in North Africa, a total of 2,164 people entered irregularly by land this year, 300% more than the same period last year.

• In Ceuta, 2,101 migrants arrived, 1,612 more than the previous year.
• In Melilla, 63 migrants entered, compared with 52 arrivals recorded up to the same date in 2025.

By sea, the Interior Ministry reports that nine migrants reached Melilla up to 30 April 2026, versus just one the year before. Ceuta recorded no sea arrivals, unlike the three documented in 2025.