Spain sees sharp drop in migrant arrivals, but surge on Balearic Islands

By Anadolu staff

MADRID (AA) - Spain recorded 20,258 irregular migrant arrivals in the first seven months of 2025 - a 30.2% decrease compared to the same period last year, according to the country’s Interior Ministry.

The majority of arrivals came by sea, with 18,657 migrants reaching Spanish shores aboard 653 boats between January and August.

The Canary Islands - the primary destination for migrants attempting the perilous Atlantic crossing from Africa for long - received 11,575 people on 191 boats since the start of the year, a 46.1% drop from 2024.

By contrast, the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean have seen a sharp rise in arrivals.

The archipelago, which includes Ibiza and Mallorca, recorded 4,316 arrivals on 230 boats so far this year, a 97.4% increase on last year.

Of those reaching the Balearics from North Africa, 3,482 were from Algeria and Sub-Saharan African countries, according to the ministry.

“While other migration routes are seeing a decline, the Balearic Islands route is strengthening and expanding,” said Marga Prohens, president of the Balearic Islands’ autonomous regional government.

She urged Spain’s central government to “reinforce maritime border security and provide more detection and control resources.”