EU external borders: irregular crossings down 21% in the first 8 months of 2025

Irregular entries into the European Union dropped by 21% in the first eight months of 2025, reaching 112 375 according to preliminary figures from Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.*

With more than 3 700 Frontex officers deployed in support of national authorities, the EU continues to strengthen border protection while working to safeguard lives at sea.

Key Highlights:

• Significant drops on the Western Balkan (-47%), Eastern Land Border (-44%), and Western African (-52%) routes.
• Central Mediterranean remains the busiest route, accounting for 37% of all irregular entries.
• Western Mediterranean recorded a 22% increase in irregular entries.
• Most frequently reported nationalities: Bangladeshi, Egyptian, and Afghan.

So far in 2025, almost 41 900 arrivals have been detected in the Central Mediterranean, broadly in line with last year. Libya remains the main departure point, where smuggling networks are increasingly using speedboats to maximise profits and avoid detection.

The number of irregular crossings detected in the Eastern Mediterranean fell 18% to around 32 000. At the same time, Crete has experienced a sharp rise in migratory pressure, with detections increasing by more than 310% compared to last year. However, rough seas reduced overall numbers in August.

On the Western Mediterranean route, irregular crossings increased by 22%. In August alone, arrivals rose by nearly 60%. Departures from Algeria account for more than 90% of detections this year, as Algerian-Moroccan criminal networks provide various budget options for reaching Spain.

The Western African route recorded the sharpest decline, down 52% to almost 12 150 detections this year, with only 572 in August. This drop reflects strengthened preventive measures in cooperation with EU partners, particularly Mauritania, which has reinforced its border management efforts.

Despite the overall decline, the human toll remains heavy. The International Organization for Migration estimates that 1 131 people have died attempting to cross the Mediterranean so far this year.

Crossings towards the UK via the Channel rose by 13% to 46 381 attempts. In August, only 4 734 were registered, largely due to persistent bad weather and rough seas.

* Note: The preliminary data presented in this statement refer to the number of detections of irregular border crossings at the external borders of the European Union. The same person may be detected crossing the border several times in different locations at the external border.