Almost 8,000 died on migration routes in 2025 but toll likely far higher, says UN agency
Summary
Nearly 8,000 migrants died or went missing on dangerous routes worldwide in 2025, with true numbers likely higher due to funding cuts hindering death tracking, says the International Organization for Migration.
Key Points
- Nearly 8,000 people died or went missing on hazardous migration routes in 2025, though actual numbers are likely higher due to reduced tracking capacity.
- Legal migration pathways are shrinking, increasing reliance on smugglers and risky journeys.
- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) attributes funding cuts, especially from the US, to reduced humanitarian access and tracking efforts.
- Sea routes, particularly across the Mediterranean and to the Canary Islands, remain the deadliest, with thousands of migrant deaths recorded globally, including sharp increases in the Horn of Africa region.
