In 2025, Spain saw a significant shift in migration trends. From January through mid-December, there were 36,935 cases of illegal border crossings both by sea and by land. This marks a 40% decrease compared to the same period last year, when the country reported record numbers. After two years of steep increases, the current figures stand in sharp contrast.
Compared to previous years, the current result is surpassed only by 2017, 2019, and 2022, when the figures were even lower. In 2018, Spain experienced a historic peak with illegal entries reaching 64,298. In 2023 and 2024 the country also faced waves of migrants, but by 2025 the situation had changed.
Sea routes
The majority of migrants still choose to come by sea. In the first eleven and a half months of 2025, 32,212 people arrived in Spain by water. That’s nearly half as many as the previous year, when the number reached 57,833. The number of boats used by migrants also dropped—from 1,727 last year to 1,209 this year.
Interestingly, 14,627 people landed by sea on the mainland and the Islas Baleares. This is slightly more than in 2024, but the difference is minimal. While fewer migrants arrived on the mainland compared to last year, the Balearics saw an increase. The Balearic Islands recorded a 27% rise, making the region stand out amid the overall decline.
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands (Islas Canarias) in 2025 saw far fewer arrivals compared to the previous year. From January to December, 17,555 migrants reached the archipelago—a drop of nearly 60% from 2024, when 43,737 people arrived on the islands. The number of boats reaching the Canaries also fell by more than half.
For comparison, in 2023 the Canaries received 39,910 migrants, and during the so-called ‘crisis de los cayucos’ in 2006, there were 31,678 arrivals. This makes the current year one of the calmest for the archipelago in the past decade.
Land borders
The enclave cities of Ceuta and Melilla were once again in the spotlight. In 2025, 3,723 people crossed into these areas through land borders, 50% more than the year before. Ceuta received 3,396 migrants, while Melilla saw 327 arrivals. Both cities recorded increases over last year, especially Ceuta.
Very few choose the sea route to these cities. In 2025, only 5 people reached Ceuta by sea, and just 25 arrived in Melilla. For Ceuta, this marks a sharp decline, while Melilla saw a slight increase.
Trends by year
Looking at data from the past eight years, 2025 ranks sixth for the number of illegal entries. The highest migrant flows were recorded in 2018, 2024, and 2023. Figures in 2021 and 2020 were also above current levels. The fewest illegal crossings were registered in 2017, 2019, and 2022.
Overall, 2025 has seen a significant decrease in migration pressure on Spain. This reduction is particularly notable compared to previous years, when the country faced record numbers of arrivals.
