At least 1,745 migrants died or disappeared in the Mediterranean in 2025, a decrease of 32% compared to the previous year, although its routes, especially the central one, continue to be the most lethal in the world, with 33,220 dead or missing since 2014, according to statistics from United Nations.
According to figures updated daily by the International Organization for Migration of the HIM (IOM) through its Missing Migrants Project, 2025 has been the second year with fewer deaths in the Mediterranean since these detailed statistics began in 2014, only ahead of 2020, in which the pandemic reduced the influx of migrants.
This is also the third consecutive year of declines in the Mediterranean Seaand the figures are far from those recorded in 2016, the worst year in terms of mortality in the region with 5,136 deaths and disappearances.
Although the age and sex of all the victims are not known, the IOM counted the death or disappearance of at least 95 children in Mediterranean transits this year, a figure also lower than last year (125).
File – Patera in Balearic waters. / GOVERNMENT DELEGATION – Archive
Central Mediterranean, the most dangerous route in the world
The central route, with usual origin in Libya o Tunisia and destination in Italia o Maltaremained this year as the most dangerous for migrants, with 1,190 deaths and disappearances.
Another 270 victims were recorded in the western Mediterranean, where Spain is one of the destinations, and for the first time since the 2015-2016 Syrian refugee crisis there were more deaths and disappearances on the eastern route (285), which usually ends in Greece o Cyprus.
Statistics from the immigration agency United Nations They also point out that the majority of migrant deaths in the Mediterranean in 2025 were due to drownings (1,536), although other causes are also counted, such as 53 deaths from violence or 21 due to poor hygiene or food conditions.
Since 2014, at least 25,775 migrants have died or disappeared on the central Mediterranean route, the most dangerous on the planet, while the western route left 4,552 victims and the eastern route 2,893.
Even greater decline in America
In Americaanother region with high numbers of dead and missing migrants since 2014 (11,411 in these 12 years, only behind the Mediterranean and Africa), the decrease in victims this year (396, the lowest figure since 2014) was even more pronounced, 68%, after 1,272 in 2024.
The American route with the most victims (158) was once again the border between Mexico y USAwhich remains the most dangerous on the continent, with 6,661 dead or missing since 2014.
Other lethal routes for migration in America have been from the Caribbean to USA (763 deaths in the last 12 years), which passes through the Darién jungle between Colombia y Panama (547) or the sea route of Dominican Republic a Puerto Rico (441).
In the global calculation of the year, it is worth noting that the decrease in deaths and missing people worldwide was 37%, from 9,197 in 2024 (the highest figure in the 14 years of complete statistics) to 5,727 in this year ending 2025.
Subscribe to continue reading
