Immigrant arrivals to the Canary Islands plunge 80%

A total of 959 migrants arrived irregularly in the Canary Islands in January 2026, 79.8 % fewer than the same period in 2025 when 4,752 people landed, according to data released by the Ministry of the Interior and consulted by Europa Press.

Key figures

• Vessels: Only about eight boats reached the Canaries this month, an 88.9 % decline from the 72 vessels recorded in January 2025.
• Spain overall: In January 2026, 2,267 migrants entered Spain irregularly, 58.4 % fewer than the 5,456 arrivals in the same month a year earlier.
• Maritime arrivals in Spain (year‑to‑date): 1,831 migrants have arrived by sea in 2026, a 65.8 % drop from the 5,361 recorded in the same period of 2025. These arrivals were made on 47 vessels, 64 fewer than last year.
• Peninsula and Balearic Islands:
  • 872 migrants arrived by sea (484 to the Peninsula, 388 to the Balearics), 43.2 % more than the 609 arrivals in the same period of 2025.
  • The number of vessels remained steady at 39.
  • Peninsula: 190 more migrants than up to 31 January 2025, a 64.62 % increase, arriving on 22 vessels (two fewer than in 2025).
  • Balearic Islands: 73 more migrants than the same period in 2025, a 23.2 % rise, arriving on 17 vessels (two more than last year).
• Ceuta and Melilla (land entries): A total of 436 people entered irregularly this year, 358.9 % more than the same period in 2025.
  • Ceuta: 426 migrants, up by 341 from last year.
  • Melilla: 10 migrants, compared with six arrivals by the same date in 2025.
  • No maritime arrivals were recorded for these autonomous cities.