The Canary Islands have seen a significant reduction in the number of irregular migrants arriving by boat during the first two months of 2025. Between 1st January and 28th February, a total of 7,138 migrants reached the archipelago, a 40.2% decrease compared to the same period in 2024, according to the latest figures from Spain’s Ministry of the Interior.
Nationally, some 9,142 people crossed into Spain through non-regular routes in January and February 2025, representing a 34.9% drop from the previous year.
Of these, 8,969 migrants arrived by sea, a 33.5% less than the same timeframe in 2024. These arrivals came 217 boats which is 69 fewer than last year.
In the Canary Islands specifically, the 7,138 migrants who arrived so far this year did so on 109 boats, nearly 40% less than the 181 recorded in early 2024. The reduction in sea arrivals to the archipelago contrasts with an increase in migrants arriving by sea to mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands.
During the first two months of this year, 1,828 migrants arrived by boat to these regions, an increase of 17.8% compared to 2024, when 1,552 migrants made the journey. The number of boats used also rose slightly to 107 up from 104 last year.
Meanwhile, the number of migrants arriving via land routes in Ceuta and Melilla has also dropped. Between January and February 2025, a total of 172 people entered Spain irregularly through these North African enclaves, which is 378 less than during the same period in 2024.
In Ceuta, 157 migrants arrived, 388 fewer than last year, while Melilla saw 15 arrivals, 10 more than in 2024. By sea, only three migrants reached Ceuta during this period.
The decrease in migrant arrivals to the Canary Islands and Spain as a whole comes amid evolving immigration policies and ongoing humanitarian efforts to manage irregular migration routes.
