More than 3,000 migrants die on route to Spain in 2025 as borders tighten

Migration Statistics: Recent data indicates that over 3,000 individuals died attempting to reach Spain by sea in the past year, marking a significant decrease compared to the previous year. However, migrant rights organizations caution that this reduction does not necessarily imply safer journeys.

According to Caminando Fronteras, from January to mid-December 2025, a total of 3,090 individuals drowned, comprising 192 women and 437 children. During the same period, Spain’s interior ministry reported that just under 36,000 irregular migrants arrived by sea and land, a decrease from more than 60,000 in the prior year.

Authorities largely attribute this decline to enhanced border control measures, particularly in Mauritania, a crucial departure point for migrants traveling to Spain. This effort is part of a €210 million migration agreement signed last year with the European Union, aimed at reducing departures.

Despite these measures, Human Rights Watch has accused Mauritanian authorities of systematic abuses against migrants, including violence and mistreatment, allegations that the Mauritanian government has strongly denied.

Based on reporting by Africanews.