MADRID: Migrant arrivals to Spain fell by over 40 percent in 2025, mainly due to a sharp drop in arrivals along the perilous Atlantic route to the Canary Islands, official figures showed.
Spain is one of the main entry points for people seeking a better life in Europe, and the country has faced pressure from EU partners to curb irregular migration.
The Interior Ministry said 36,775 migrants entered Spain irregularly last year, the vast majority by sea, a 42.6 percent decline from 64,019 in 2024.
Arrivals to the Canary Islands dropped 62 percent to 17,788 in 2025, while arrivals in the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean — mainly from Algeria — rose 24.5 percent to 7,321.
Spain is one of the main entry points for people seeking a better life in Europe, and the country has faced pressure from EU partners to curb irregular migration.
