Migratory routes are paths people use to move across borders
or within a state. While most travel for business or tourism and follow
official land, air or sea routes to reach their destination, others may move
outside the regulatory norms.
Such irregular movements have many roots and are often
provoked by local or regional instability, fragile geopolitical situation of a
state, poverty or human rights violations.
Frontex monitors the external borders of the European Union
to provide a comprehensive picture of migration trends. Our experts analyse
data from various sources, including surveillance activities, border crossings
and migrant registration centres, to establish a holistic picture of the
migratory pressures on various routes.
Each month, Frontex shares migratory data collected by
national authorities in the form of a
migratory map which presents the current migratory situation in Europe and
allows for close monitoring of migration patterns over time.
Many migrants attempting to reach Europe face
life-threatening journeys, as human smugglers use unsafe or overcrowded boats to
cross the Mediterranean or reach the Canary Islands. These crossings pose
significant challenges for search and rescue operations. Learn more about Frontex’s
role in search and rescue.
Detections of irregular border crossings at the EU’s external borders fell by over one-quarter (26%) in 2025 to almost 178 000. This is less than half the total recorded in 2023 and the lowest level since 2021.
The decrease is significant, yet the situation at Europe’s borders remains uncertain. Migration pressure can shift quickly between routes, shaped by conflict; social, political and economic instability; and smuggling networks. The European Union is also already coping with attempts by hostile actors to exploit migration flows to pressure its external borders.
In 2025, the Central Mediterranean remained the most active migration route into the EU, with detection levels broadly in line with 2024. Departures from Libya remained a key factor shaping movements towards Italy.
On the Eastern Mediterranean route, detections fell overall, continuing a downward trend. Within this route, one corridor stood out: crossings from eastern Libya to the island of Crete more than tripled, showing how pressure can shift quickly even when the broader regional picture points to a decrease.
The Western Africa route saw the steepest decline, with detections down by around two-thirds, driven by sharp drops in departures from Mauritania, Morocco and Senegal.
Along the Western Balkans route, detections also fell markedly, supported by heightened security measures and close cooperation with Frontex, which is present in the region. This included the launch of a new joint operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina in November 2025, strengthening operational support on the ground.
Meanwhile, the Western Mediterranean recorded an increase in detections, linked mainly to higher departures from Algeria.
Across routes, the three most frequently detected nationalities in 2025 were Bangladeshis, Egyptians and Afghans. Libya remained the main country of departure for almost all major nationalities that recorded increases, underlining its continued central role in movements towards Europe across the Central Mediterranean.
The Western African Route connects West Africa (and areas further north) with the Canary Islands.
The Western African route saw the steepest decline, with detections falling by 63%, driven by sharp drops in departures from Mauritania, Morocco and Senegal.
This is notable given increased inflows of migrants into some departure countries, linked to instability spreading in the Sahel.
The Gambia and Guinea were the only countries where departures increased in 2025. Malians, Senegalese and Guineans were the top nationalities reported on the route.
In 2025, the Central Mediterranean route remained the busiest for migration into the EU, accounting for more than a third of all detections reported.
Departures from Libya were a key factor in shaping movements towards Italy.
The top three nationalities detected on the Central Mediterranean route were Bangladeshi, Egyptian and Eritrean.
This migratory route encompasses movements towards Cyprus, Greece’s maritime borders, and the Greek and Bulgaria land borders with Türkiye.
In 2025, detections on the Eastern Mediterranean route fell overall by nearly 30%, continuing a downward trend from the previous year. Within this route, crossings from eastern Libya to Crete more than tripled, showing how pressure can shift quickly even when the broader regional picture points to a decrease.
The most frequently detected nationalities were Afghans, Sudanese and Egyptians.
In 2025, the number of irregular border crossings detected along the Eastern Borders route fell by almost 40%.
Hybrid aggression by Belarus continued throughout the year.
This route leads from north-west Africa to the south of Spain.
In 2025, the Western Mediterranean route saw an increase in detections, linked mainly to higher departures from Algeria.
The most frequently detected nationalities were Algerians, Somalis and Moroccans.
The Western Balkan route includes Romania, Hungary and Croatia, as well as Bulgaria, at the land borders with countries from the Western Balkan region.
In 2025, detections on the Western Balkan route continued a strong decline (-42%), supported by heightened security measures and close cooperation with Frontex, which is present in the region. This included the launch of a new Frontex joint operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina in November 2025, strengthening operational support on the ground.
The most frequently detected nationalities on this route were Turkish, Afghan and Syrian.
Attempts detected on exit towards the United Kingdom across the English Channel, including both those who reached the UK and those prevented from leaving, continued roughly in line with 2024.
Eritreans, Somalis and Afghans were the most frequently reported nationalities on exit.
