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The number of migrants arriving in the Balearic Islands by boat has grown by 70.9% in 2025
A total of 5,465 irregular immigrants have risked their lives on the treacherous journey to Spain so far this year
A total of 5,465 migrants have arrived in the Balearic Islands irregularly between January 1 and September 15 of this year. This represents a 70.9% increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to the report on irregular immigration published on Tuesday September 16 by the Ministry of the Interior.
Ministry figures also show that 26,211 migrants have entered Spain illegally by sea and land so far in 2025. This marks a 31% decrease compared to the same period last year, when 37,970 people arrived.
By sea alone, 23,583 migrants have reached Spain in 2025. This is 34.3% fewer than in the same period of 2024, when 35,882 arrived. They travelled aboard 921 vessels, which is 201 fewer than the previous year.
In the Canary Islands, 12,487 migrants have been registered as of September 15. This represents a 53.3% drop from the 26,758 arrivals in the same period last year. They travelled in 204 boats, which is 48.2% fewer than the 394 recorded in 2024.
In contrast, mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands together have seen an increase. A total of 11,065 migrants have arrived by sea this year, with 5,600 reaching the mainland and 5,465 reaching the Balearics. This figure is 21.8% higher than the 9,084 who arrived during the same period in 2024. In total, 706 boats were used, 10 fewer than last year.
Ceuta and Melilla have also recorded an increase in irregular entries by land. A total of 2,628 people have entered the two autonomous cities so far in 2025, which is 25.9% more than last year. Of these, 2,401 entered Ceuta, an increase of 375, while 227 entered Melilla, which is 165 more than in 2024.
By sea, six migrants have reached Ceuta irregularly in 2025 compared to 19 last year. In Melilla, 25 people arrived by sea compared to 21 in the same period of 2024, representing a 19% increase.
While the report doesn’t speculate on the reasons why arrivals in the Canary Islands have dropped so sharply, much tighter surveillance of the Atlantic migration route likely has something to do with it. A new law has also been approved which allows thousands of unaccompanied minors currently housed in the Canary Islands to be relocated to other regions of Spain. This should help reduce pressure on the islands’ reception centres but may also change where migrants attempt entry in the future.
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