The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has reported that about 7,900 people died or went missing along migration routes in 2025 alone, pushing the global death toll over the past decade to a major and sobering milestone.
According to the UN migration agency’s Missing Migrants Project, more than 80,000 deaths and disappearances have been recorded since 2014. The organisation stressed that the figure is likely an undercount, as many cases go unreported.
“These figures represent only the lowest boundary of the true number of affected people,” the IOM noted, adding that they highlight the urgent need for stronger action to prevent migrant deaths and support families left behind.
Rising deaths amid worsening conditions
The agency warned that the 2025 data reflects “a continuation and escalation of a global failure” to stop preventable deaths on migration routes. It also pointed to growing challenges in tracking incidents due to reduced humanitarian funding and limited access to information.
The IOM said aid cuts and restrictions on reporting dangerous irregular routes have made many missing migrants “invisible,” making it harder for humanitarian agencies to respond effectively.
Changing migration patterns in the Americas and Europe
In the Western Hemisphere, northbound migration through Central America dropped sharply compared to 2024. The IOM’s humanitarian response director, Maria Moita, linked this to shifts in US migration policy and tighter border controls.
While fatalities on that route declined, she warned that a lack of reliable data from US and Mexican authorities is creating serious gaps in monitoring.
In Europe, overall arrivals also fell, but migration patterns shifted, with more Bangladeshi nationals recorded among arrivals following a decline in Syrian migration linked to policy changes.
Sea crossings remain particularly deadly. Around 3,400 deaths were recorded on routes to Europe, including 1,330 in the central Mediterranean and more than 1,200 on the Atlantic route toward Spain’s Canary Islands.
West Africa and the Atlantic route
The Atlantic migration route from West Africa remains one of the most dangerous, with more than 1,200 deaths recorded in 2025 alone. The route is commonly used by young people from countries including Ghana, Nigeria, and The Gambia seeking better economic opportunities abroad.
The IOM said the losses represent both a human tragedy and a “brain drain” for the region, with many families left without answers about missing relatives for years.
Africa pushes for safer migration pathways
African Union member states met in Cairo in April 2026, where they renewed calls for stronger protection of migrants and improved systems for tracking missing persons.
The bloc is also working toward a common African position for the upcoming International Migration Review Forum, aimed at ensuring that the experiences of migrants and their families are better reflected in global policy discussions.
Deadly routes in Asia
In Southeast Asia, nearly 900 deaths and disappearances were recorded in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea in 2025, making it the deadliest year on record for that route. The IOM said most of those affected were Rohingya refugees attempting dangerous sea journeys.
Families left behind
The human impact of these deaths continues to grow. The IOM estimates that at least 340,000 family members have been affected by missing migrant cases since 2014.
IOM Director-General Amy Pope said the crisis is not just about numbers. “Behind these figures are people taking dangerous journeys and families left waiting for news that may never come,” she said.
She added that stronger political commitment is needed globally to prevent further loss of life and ensure safer migration pathways.
A call for action
The IOM stressed that migration routes are constantly shifting due to conflict, climate pressures, and policy changes, but the risks remain severe.
It called for better data collection, coordinated international action, and safer legal migration channels to reduce reliance on dangerous irregular routes.
Ultimately, the agency said, reducing migrant deaths will depend on whether governments can balance border security with the protection of human life and dignity.