IOM Reports Decline in Migrant Sea Crossings to Europe Amid Rising Deaths

More than 2,200 migrants died or vanished at sea in 2026, despite a decline in crossings into Europe, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The agency reported that approximately 60,000 migrants and refugees reached Europe by boat so far in 2026, marking a 39 percent decrease from around 98,000 during the same period last year. The report indicates that, despite this decline, at least 2,292 individuals have died or gone missing while attempting the crossing, an increase from 1,999 in the same timeframe last year, with many incidents occurring on overcrowded and unsuitable boats departing from Libya’s coast. IOM Director General Amy Pope stated, "These figures tell two stories at once," highlighting that while fewer people are arriving by sea, deaths and disappearances remain alarmingly high. Pope emphasized the need for sustained international cooperation to save lives, protect migrants, combat trafficking, and expand safe migration pathways. The Mediterranean and Atlantic routes are identified as the deadliest maritime routes globally. Arrivals via the Central Mediterranean route, the primary crossing from North Africa to Italy, have decreased by more than half, yet deaths have increased from 844 to 996. Greece has experienced a smaller decline in arrivals but a significant rise in deaths, from 284 to 417. Spain has seen both a drop in arrivals and an increase in fatalities, with 879 people reported dead or missing on routes leading there. The IOM notes that most migrants are fleeing war and persecution, with economic hardship cited as the primary reason for leaving, followed by conflict and targeted violence. The agency has documented over 104,000 people fleeing the war in Yemen, alongside significant displacement from Lebanon and Syria due to ongoing conflicts. The actual death toll is likely higher, as many boats disappear without being recorded. In response to the migration crisis, several European governments have moved towards stricter border policies, influenced by pressure from right-wing parties. The European Union agreed in June to new rules permitting migrant deportations to countries outside the bloc, while the IOM advocates for more legal migration routes into Europe and enhanced measures to reduce risks along existing crossings. This report follows a migration crisis in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta in July, where over 70,000 people crossed from Morocco in two days, resulting in at least 90 deaths and prompting nationwide protests regarding the government's response.