Irregular arrivals to the islands plunge 60% in 2025

This year, up to the archipelago arrived on board 259 vessels, 59.7 % fewer than in 2024, with 643

The arrival of irregular immigrants to the Canary Islands stood at 17,555 migrants in 2025, a 59.9 % decrease compared with the same period in 2024, which was a record year with 43,737 people. In concrete terms, this year the migrants came on 259 vessels, 59.7 % fewer than in 2024, carrying 643 passengers, according to the Ministry of Inclusion (the latest data are published every 15 days, as reported by Tiempo de Canarias).

The archipelago is therefore far from last year’s record figure (43,737), which had already surpassed the totals of 2023 (39,910) and the 2006 “cayuco crisis” (31,678).

Across Spain, 2025 has been marked by a decline in irregular migrant arrivals, with a total of 35,935 entries, down from the spikes recorded in 2023 and 2024.

• As of 15 December, Spain recorded 35,935 irregular migrant arrivals by sea and land in 2025, a 40.4 % drop from the 60,311 recorded in the same period of 2024.
• The figures confirm a reversal of the upward trend observed in 2023 (56,800 arrivals) and 2024 (63,900 arrivals), which were among the highest levels of the last decade. The historic peak remains 2018, with 64,298 arrivals.
• Compared with other years, 2025 ranks below five of the last eight years, standing only above 2017 (28,349), 2019 (32,513) and 2022 (30,048).

Ranking of irregular arrivals in Spain (most recent years):

1. 2018 – 64,298
2. 2024 – 63,970
3. 2023 – 56,852
4. 2021 – 41,945
5. 2020 – 41,861
6. 2025 – 35,935
7. 2019 – 32,513
8. 2022 – 30,048
9. 2017 – 28,349

44.3 % Fewer Maritime Arrivals in 2025

From 1 January to 15 December, 32,212 migrants arrived in Spain by sea, 44.3 % fewer than the 57,833 arrivals recorded in the same period last year. These migrants came on 1,209 vessels, 518 fewer than the previous year.

Maritime arrivals to the mainland and the Balearic Islands were 14,627 (7,332 to the Peninsula and 7,295 to the Balearics), 4.1 % more than the 14,047 recorded in the same period of 2024. They were transported on 939 vessels, 130 fewer than the year before.

• Peninsula: 7,332 migrants, 983 fewer than last year (‑11.8 %). Arrivals were on 539 vessels, 188 fewer than in 2024.
• Balearic Islands: 7,295 migrants, 1,563 more than in 2024 (+27.3 %). Arrivals were on 400 vessels, 58 more than the previous year.

Ceuta and Melilla

• Land entries: A total of 3,723 people entered the autonomous cities irregularly by land, 50.2 % more than the same period last year.

  • Ceuta: 3,396 migrants, 1,010 more than last year.
  • Melilla: 327 migrants, 235 more than in 2024.

• Maritime entries:

  • Ceuta received 5 irregular migrants by sea, down from 28 the previous year (‑82.1 %).
  • Melilla received 25 irregular migrants by sea, up from 21 in the same period of 2024 (+19 %).