Spain sees sharp rise in migrant sea arrivals

Spain recorded 61,372 sea arrivals in 2024, marking a 10.3% increase from the previous year. The Canary Islands bore the brunt of these arrivals, receiving 46,843 migrants, a significant 17.4% jump from 2023.

According to Moroccan government-friendly Hespress, Morocco emerged as the second-largest origin of migrants, with over 13,000 departures. Other key departure points included Mauritania with more than 25,000 migrants, Algeria with 12,038, and sub-Saharan African countries like Senegal and the Gambia.

The migration pattern shifted due to tightened border controls in North African countries, effectively redirecting migration routes towards Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal. The Atlantic route to the Canary Islands saw an 18% surge, while the Western Mediterranean path declined by 6%.

Hespress