Record Number of Migrants Arrive at the Canary Islands in 2024; Asians Also Discover Route

barcelona - A record number of migrants arrived at the Canary Islands in 2024, with notable numbers coming from Pakistan and Bangladesh. Spain has become a key entry point to Europe alongside Italy.

According to the Spanish Ministry of Interior, a total of 63,970 migrants arrived in Spain in 2024, representing a 12.5% increase from the previous year, but slightly below the record numbers of 2018. Spain has emerged as a primary gateway to Europe in 2024, alongside Italy. While Italy saw a nearly 60% decrease in migrant arrivals, Spain continues to see an upward trend.

The majority of migrants arrived by sea in over 1800 boats, with nearly 700 overcrowded and often unseaworthy boats reaching the Canary Islands. It was reported that more than 10,000 migrants lost their lives on the route to the Canary Islands. Despite the perils, there was a cautious sense of relief among rescue services as the predicted surge in migrant arrivals did not materialize.

Efforts to curb the influx included visits by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to Mauritania, Senegal, and Gambia to enhance cooperation on border security. Sánchez also proposed 'circular migration' agreements to allow residents from these countries to work legally in Spain for part of the year. These strategies appeared to have some success in reducing arrivals.

However, concerns remain as Malians surpassed Algerians and Moroccans in migrant numbers for the first time, alongside a growing presence of Asians, particularly from Pakistan and Bangladesh. Frontex warns of expanding human trafficking networks targeting Asian citizens and Sahel migrants.

Unlike African asylum seekers who pay between 1000 and 1500 euros, Asians flying from the UAE or Qatar to Senegal or Mauritania reportedly pay up to 2000 euros due to perceived higher ability to pay and difficulty in moving them undetected.

There are fears in Spain that Asians may increasingly opt for the route to the Canary Islands over the central Mediterranean route. The evolving migrant landscape poses new challenges and considerations for authorities and human traffickers alike.