This number surpasses the previous year’s record by nearly 200 victims, with the toll doubling since 2020. Ugochi Daniels, the deputy director of the IOM, lamented the increasing loss of life among migrants, emphasizing that each death represents a personal tragedy that could be prevented.
Most Migrant Deaths Occur in Asia
According to the IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, Asia was the most dangerous region, with 2,778 reported migrant deaths, an increase of 624 from the previous year. The Mediterranean region followed with 2,452 deaths, a decrease of 703, and Africa recorded the third highest number at 2,242, up by 367.
In the Americas, while exact figures are pending, at least 1,233 fatalities were confirmed, including 341 deaths in the Caribbean and a record 174 deaths among those crossing the Darien jungle between Colombia and Panama.
The IOM underscores that the actual number of migrant deaths and disappearances is likely higher due to underreporting and a lack of official data.
Steady Rise in Migrant Deaths Over Five Years
Since 2014, IOM surveys have documented more than 74,000 migrant deaths or disappearances worldwide. Over the last five years, there’s been a consistent uptick in these fatalities, with at least 10% attributed to violence.
Smugglers, gang violence, and hazardous journeys—often aboard unseaworthy vessels—have contributed to the rising death toll. The IOM defines migrants as individuals who leave their place of residence for any reason and any duration, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, including asylum seekers fleeing conflict or persecution.
Edited by: Louis Oelofse
