Record 46,843 Migrants Reached Canary Islands in 2024 via Deadly Atlantic Route

Spain faces a surge in arrivals as dangerous Atlantic crossings increase, with over 10,400 deaths reported and political tensions mounting.

The Canary Islands saw an unprecedented 46,843 irregular migrant arrivals in 2024, a 17.4% increase from 2023, according to Spain's interior ministry.
The Atlantic migration route, one of the world's deadliest, accounted for over 10,400 deaths or disappearances last year, a 50% rise from 2023, per NGO Caminando Fronteras.
Spain's total irregular migrant arrivals in 2024 reached 63,970, nearing the 2018 record of 64,298, while EU-wide irregular crossings fell by 40%.
Local Canary Island authorities report being overwhelmed, particularly with the care of nearly 6,000 unaccompanied minors, as tensions grow over limited resources and infrastructure.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government has adopted measures to regularize migrants, sparking political opposition and debate over Spain's contrasting approach to EU migration policies.