More than 3,000 migrants lost their lives in 2025 while attempting perilous journeys to reach Spain, according to data compiled by the Spanish migration rights group Caminando Fronteras. The figure of 3,090 deaths recorded between January and mid-December comes amid stricter border controls and changing migration routes across the region.
The majority of these fatalities occurred on the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands, long regarded as one of the world’s most dangerous migrant crossings. The deaths recorded include 192 women and 437 children, highlighting the vulnerability of those risking the journey in search of safety or economic opportunity.
Spanish authorities reported that just under 36,000 irregular migrants arrived by sea and land during the same period, a significant drop from over 60,000 in 2024, a decrease attributed largely to tighter border enforcement, including agreements with transit countries such as Mauritania to curb departures.
However, migrant rights advocates warn that the reduction in arrivals does not necessarily make the routes safer. New departure points, including from Guinea and Algeria, have emerged, creating longer and more treacherous passages and exposing migrants to heightened risks of shipwrecks, dehydration and exploitation by traffickers.
Human rights organisations have also accused some transit authorities of systematic abuse against migrants, allegations that governments deny. The continued loss of life underscores the complex humanitarian challenges facing Europe’s migration policies and the ongoing desperation that drives people to undertake such dangerous crossings.
