Irregular entries into the European Union decreased 22% in the first nine months of 2025, reaching 133 400 according to preliminary data from Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.*
Across Europe, more than 3 600 Frontex officers continue to assist national authorities in safeguarding the EU’s external borders.
Key highlights:
- Strong declines on the Western African (-58%), Western Balkan (-47%), and Eastern Land Border (-36%) routes.
- The Central Mediterranean is the busiest route, accounting for nearly 40% of all irregular entries this year.
- The Western Mediterranean experienced a 28% increase in irregular entries.
- Most frequently reported nationalities: Bangladeshi, Egyptian, and Afghan.
In the Central Mediterranean, nearly 50 900 arrivals were detected between January and September 2025, which is broadly in line with the same period last year. However, Libya, the main departure point, recorded a 50% increase in departures compared with 2024.
The number of irregular crossings registered in the Eastern Mediterranean decreased 22% to around 37 200. Following a lower number of arrivals in August caused by adverse weather conditions, crossings via the Libya-Crete corridor surged again in September, with detections increasing 280% compared to last year.
On the Western Mediterranean route, irregular crossings increased 28%. In September alone, arrivals rose by more than half, with departures from Algeria accounting for almost three quarters of detections this year.
Morocco’s stronger prevention efforts have pushed more people to seek smuggling services in Algeria. This has led to closer cooperation between Algerian and Moroccan smuggling networks and a shift of some operations to Algerian territory. These groups use complex tactics, including transporting migrants in speedboats with powerful engines.
The Western African route recorded the sharpest decline, down 58% to almost 12 900 detections this year, with only 734 in September.
Despite the overall decline, the human cost remains devastating. According to estimates by the International Organization for Migration, 1 299 people have died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean so far this year.
Crossings towards the UK via the Channel rose 14%, reaching 54 300 attempts.
* Note: The preliminary data presented in this statement refer to the number of detections of irregular border crossings at the external borders of the European Union. The same person may be detected crossing the border several times in different locations at the external border.
