The number of irregular border crossings into the European Union fell by 31 % in the first quarter of 2025 to nearly 33 600, according to preliminary data collected by Frontex*.
This decline was observed across all major migratory routes into the EU, with drops ranging from 64% along the Western Balkan route to 8% along the Eastern Land Border.
Some 3 200 Frontex officers along the EU's external borders supports national authorities in their efforts to protect Europe's borders and save lives at sea.
The Eastern Mediterranean and Western African routes are the most active pathways for irregular migration so far this year. The Eastern Mediterranean was the busiest, with 9 630 arrivals between January and March. Migrants on this route primarily originated from Afghanistan, Egypt, and Sudan.
The Western African route followed closely, with 9 200 recorded arrivals during the same period. This represents a 30% decrease compared to the first quarter of 2024.
The Central Mediterranean registered 8 500 irregular crossings in the first quarter of 2025. This represents a 26% decrease compared to the first quarter of 2024. In March alone, the number of registered arrivals fell by three-quarters year-on-year. Poor weather conditions were among the factors behind this drop.
Many risk their lives trying to cross the sea relying on services of smugglers. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that in just the first three months of 2025, 385 people lost their lives at sea. In all of last year, this tragic number reached 2 300.
On the Channel route, the number of migrants attempting to cross into the United Kingdom dropped by 4% compared to last year, with detections slightly above 11 200.
* Note: The preliminary data presented in this statement refer to the number of detections of irregular border crossing at the external borders of the European Union. The same person may cross the border several times in different locations at the external border.