Almost 20,000 immigrants arrived in Spain so far this year, three times more than in 2023

Since the beginning of the year they reached Spain 19,887 people irregularly by sea or land, a figure that almost triples the number of immigrants who arrived in 2023 when 6,858 did so, the Ministry of the Interior reported this Friday.

The figures reflect that irregular arrivals of immigrants from January 1 to May 2 increased by 190% compared to the same period last year.

As usual, the vast majority of these people entered Spain through the Canary Islands, located in the Atlantic, off the African coast. 15,982 people arrived there in 242 precarious boats, known as pateras, which represents an increase of 369% compared to 2023.

Despite the global figure, arrivals to the Canary archipelago decreased in the last two months, since 2024 started with very high figures of irregular immigration. In fact, in January and February 11,932 migrants arrived, while in March there were 1,183, and in April around 2,800.

Immigrant arrivals to the Canary Islands increased significantly in the second half of last year and the first months of 2024, despite the risky nature of the journey, since the so-called Canary Emigration Route is one of the most dangerous in the world; and these arrivals boost the total numbers of immigrants who arrive in Spain irregularly.

Meanwhile, to the coasts of the Peninsula and the Balearic Islands (Mediterranean), arrivals continue to decline slightly: 2,947 migrants, 4.7% less than in the same months of 2023.

In total, 18,930 people entered Spain by sea, 12,383 more than in the same period last year, in 454 boats.

And by land, arrivals to the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla (North Africa, bordering Morocco) more than tripled, with 957 people in total, 646 more than arrivals in the first four months of 2023, the majority of them to Ceuta.

It may interest you