BERLIN: The United Nations migration body reported on Thursday that at least 7,667 migrants lost their lives or went missing along migration corridors worldwide in 2025, cautioning that the real number is probably much higher.
Although the toll marked a decline from 2024 — when close to 9,200 deaths were documented — the International Organization for Migration (IOM) stressed that the figures still highlight the vast scale of dangers faced by people on the move.
IOM Director General Amy Pope described the persistent fatalities as an unacceptable global shortcoming, urging governments to expand safe and legal migration pathways.
“These deaths are not inevitable,” she said, emphasizing that better policies could prevent further tragedies.
According to AFP, the agency also noted that reduced funding for humanitarian organizations, tighter restrictions on NGOs, and gaps in reliable data collection are complicating efforts to determine the full extent of migrant deaths.
According to the report, maritime journeys remain especially deadly. Crossings of the Mediterranean — particularly from North Africa toward Europe — continue to rank among the most perilous routes.
In 2025 alone, at least 2,108 people were reported missing while attempting the Mediterranean passage. Additionally, 1,047 migrants died or disappeared en route to Spain’s Canary Islands, though the IOM believes the actual numbers exceed official records.
The crisis has shown no signs of easing in 2026. The agency warned that the first two months of the year have already witnessed an alarming spike in Mediterranean fatalities, with 606 deaths recorded by Tuesday – despite a significant drop in arrivals to Italy.
