Over 500 migrants died in 2024 along the perilous route from Algeria to Spain, making it the second deadliest migratory path after the Atlantic route, according to NGO Caminando Fronteras.
In 2024, 26 boats vanished entirely, and migrant arrivals to Spain’s Balearic Islands surged by 154% compared to the previous year. The route has shifted eastward, increasing risks due to longer distances and fewer rescue services.
The “harragas”—migrants fleeing economic despair—include vulnerable groups such as unaccompanied minors and families. Many are Algerian, though 40% now come from other regions, including sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.
Algeria’s high youth unemployment and bleak economic outlook drive this exodus. For many, legal migration paths are blocked, leaving dangerous sea crossings as their only option.
