The number of undocumented migrants arriving in Spain’s Canary Islands, a primary entry point into Europe, reached a historic high of 46,843 in 2024. This figure reflects an increase of over 17% compared to the previous year, according to data released on Thursday by the Ministry of the Interior.
In total, 63,970 migrants entered Spain illegally via land or sea, up from 56,852 in 2023. This represents a significant year-on-year increase of 12.5% and is nearly at the record level set in 2018, when 64,298 undocumented migrants arrived in Spain.
Despite the extreme dangers associated with this Atlantic route—where many individuals lose their lives attempting to cross from the northwest coast of Africa to reach the archipelago—the Canary Islands remain the primary gateway for undocumented migrants into Spain.
According to a recent report from the Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras, more than 10,400 migrants lost their lives or went missing at sea while trying to reach Spain in 2024. The organization described this year as “the deadliest” since it began publishing estimates based on testimonies from survivors.
The reported number of fatalities is 58% higher than last year’s toll, which stood at 6,618 migrants who died or went missing on migratory routes to Spain.
