By Desmond Nleya
At least 7,667 migrants died or disappeared along migration routes across the world in 2025, according to the United Nations’ migration agency, which described the deaths as a “global failure” and warned that the true figure is likely higher.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said the Mediterranean Sea remained the deadliest route, with at least 2,108 people losing their lives while attempting to cross from Africa to Europe. Another 1,047 migrants died or went missing while trying to reach Spain’s Canary Islands.
The agency also reported a worrying start to 2026, with 606 migrant deaths already recorded on the Mediterranean route in the first two months of the year — an unprecedented number for that period.
IOM Director General Amy Pope said the deaths were preventable and called for safer and legal migration pathways. She warned that funding cuts to humanitarian organisations, restrictions on rescue groups, and limited access to reliable data were making it difficult to track the full scale of the crisis.
In recent weeks, the remains of 23 migrants were found along the southern coasts of Italy and Libya, while hundreds more are believed to be missing at sea but have not yet been officially confirmed.
Globally, migrant deaths declined from about 9,200 recorded in 2024. The drop was partly attributed to fewer people attempting dangerous journeys, especially along routes in the Americas such as the US-Mexico border and the Darién Gap. The IOM recorded 409 deaths in the Americas in 2025, the lowest number since 2014.
Despite the decline, the UN agency stressed that thousands continue to risk their lives each year, highlighting the urgent need for safer migration options and stronger international cooperation.
