A surge in illegal migration to Spain’s Canary Islands has shattered records in 2024, with over 46,800 migrants arriving after braving one of the world’s deadliest migration routes.
Tragically, at least 10,457 lives were lost or disappeared during these treacherous journeys across the Atlantic, marking a 50% rise in fatalities compared to the previous year.
Figures from Spain’s Interior Ministry reveal that 46,843 migrants reached the islands, eclipsing the prior record of 39,910 set in 2023. This influx accounted for the majority of Spain’s total 63,970 illegal arrivals last year. Many migrants originate from Senegal, Mali, and Morocco, drawn to the Canary route due to tighter Mediterranean border enforcement.
While the EU border agency Frontex reported a 40% decline in overall illegal entries into Europe by late 2024, the Atlantic route bucked the trend, experiencing a 19% increase. According to Caminando Fronteras, the perilous crossing offers slim survival odds—only one in five migrants make it to the islands alive.
Despite the risks, most migrants are economic seekers rather than refugees, as the UN Refugee Agency clarifies: “Most people who reach the Canary Islands have no real reasons to flee in the sense of the Geneva Refugee Convention.” Deportations remain rare, creating a persistent draw for hopeful migrants.
The first day of 2025 underscored the ongoing crisis. Tourists in Tenerife witnessed migrants arriving at Las Galletas beach, though the voyage claimed two more lives. As the new year begins, the grim reality is clear: the migration wave shows no signs of abating.
