The number of irregular border crossings into the European Union fell by
43% in the first 10 months of 2024 to 191 900, driven by significant drops on
the Central Mediterranean (-62%) and Western Balkan migratory routes (-80%), according
to preliminary data collected by Frontex*.
Frontex supports national authorities in their border management efforts
with 3 000 officers and staff deployed across the EU’s external borders.
Key highlights for the first 10 months of 2024:
• Central
Mediterranean recorded a 62% drop (y/y) in irregular border crossings.
• Western
Balkans region demonstrated a significant decline of 80%.
• Eastern
Land Border saw the highest increases of 195%.
• The
top nationalities of irregular migrants so far this year were: Syrian, Malian,
and Ukrainian.
The Central Mediterranean route has continued its strong downward
trend this year thanks to the efforts of Tunisian and Libyan authorities to
combat smuggling groups. The number of arrivals on this route fell by 62%
between January and October, with 55 227 arrivals.
The Eastern Mediterranean route has continued to rise this year,
with 14% increase in the first ten months of the year, bringing the total to 54
989. In October, this was the busiest route in term of arrivals in Europe, with
7 300 detections.
The number of irregular border crossings on the Western African
route remained high in the January-October period, reaching over 34 091.
The Eastern Land Borders have seen a 195% increase to 15 234
arrivals this year.
The number of detections on the Channel route between January and
October increased by 5% to reach 57 162. The irregular migrants heading towards
the UK arrive mainly via Western Balkans, the Central and Western Mediterranean
routes but also via Belarus.
* Note: The preliminary data presented in this statement refer to the
number of detections of irregular border crossing at the external borders of
the European Union. The same person may cross the border several times in
different locations at the external border.
