OVIEDO, Spain — Spain experienced a significant surge in irregular migrant arrivals, both by land and sea, in the year 2023, as per data released on Wednesday by the Interior Ministry. Anadolu reported that a total of 56,852 migrants arrived in Spain, marking an 83% increase compared to the figures from 2022.
The most notable rise was observed in the Canary Islands, which witnessed a record-breaking influx of migrants navigating the perilous Atlantic route. In 2023, the Canary Islands recorded 39,910 arrivals, marking a staggering 154% surge compared to the previous year.
Overall, 2023 marked the second-highest number of irregular migrant arrivals in Spain’s recent history, surpassed only by the figures from 2018 when over 64,000 individuals entered the country.
A key factor contributing to the heightened arrivals in 2023 was a significant increase in small ships undertaking the hazardous journey from Senegal to the Canary Island of El Hierro. The surge in people seeking better opportunities in Europe and escaping persecution prompted the Senegalese government to implement emergency measures in November to curb the rising exodus.
Spain emerged as the second-most favored destination for irregular migrants within the European Union in 2023. Comparatively, Italy recorded 155,754 migrant arrivals, a 50% increase from 2022, according to government data. Meanwhile, Greece, the third most popular country for irregular arrivals, documented 48,564 arrivals in 2023, according to United Nations data.
While Spain’s Interior Ministry did not provide data on the number of migrants who lost their lives attempting to reach Spanish shores, the record numbers taking the perilous Canary Island route suggest that the death toll could be unprecedented. In 2022, the non-governmental organization Walking Borders estimated that 2,390 lives were lost in attempts to reach Spain, with a majority (1,784) occurring during journeys to the Canary Islands.
