Overview
- Spain counted 36,775 irregular arrivals in 2025, down from 64,019 in 2024, according to the Interior Ministry’s annual balance.
- Sea entries dominated, with 32,925 people reaching Spain on 1,235 pateras and cayucos.
- Flows shifted across routes, with arrivals to the Canary Islands dropping by roughly 62% and the Balearic Islands rising by 24.5%.
- Recent operations underscore ongoing risk: Salvamento Marítimo rescued 180 people off El Hierro on December 31, and NGO Caminando Fronteras reported 3,090 deaths in 2025.
- On January 2, the first cayuco of 2026 reached El Hierro with 144 people, including eight minors, according to Salvamento Marítimo.