The International Organization for Migration said that almost 60,000 people arrived irregularly in Europe in the first eight months of 2026, down from more than 98,000 a year earlier, while at least 2,292 people died or went missing. Data published on 17 September showed a 39% drop in arrivals overall, including a 55% fall on the Central Mediterranean route, but an 18% rise in deaths and disappearances there.
Why it matters: The figures suggest that lower arrivals have not made Mediterranean migration less deadly. The data will shape debates over border enforcement, search-and-rescue operations, and whether Europe is providing enough safe and legal routes.
Benjamin Moore
2026.09.24
100% relevant
This article provides the new IOM Europe-wide 2026 arrivals-and-deaths data as the core news development.
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