A total of 7,295 migrants have arrived irregularly in the Balearics by small boats this year, which is 27.3% more (+1,563 migrants) than the arrivals recorded up to 15 December last year. This is according to the report on irregular immigration published on Tuesday by the Ministry of the Interior and reported by Europa Press.
In terms of the number of boats, a total of 400 have arrived in the islands, 17% more than in the same months of 2024, when there were 342. In Spain, 35,935 migrants have arrived irregularly this year by sea and land, which is 40.4% less than in the same period last year. The report reveals that 35,935 migrants have arrived in Spain irregularly by sea and land so far in 2025, which is 40.4% less than in the same period in 2024, when 60,311 arrived.
In this regard, it reveals that, from 1 January to 15 December, 32,212 migrants arrived in Spain by sea this year, 44.3% less than in the same period last year, when there were 57,833 arrivals. This year, they arrived in 1,209 boats, 518 fewer than the previous year. It also points out that 14,627 migrants have arrived by sea to the mainland (7,332) and the Balearics (7,295), which is 4.1% more than in the same period in 2024, when 14,047 arrived. In this case, they arrived in 939 boats, 130 fewer than last year.
As for migrants who arrived on the mainland by sea, there were 983 fewer than those who entered irregularly until 15 December last year, representing a decrease of 11.8%. They arrived on 539 boats, 188 fewer than in 2024. With regard to the Canary Islands, 17,555 migrants have entered the islands this year, 59.9% fewer than those who arrived in the same period in 2024 (43,737). This year, they arrived on board 259 boats, 59.7% fewer than in 2024, with 643.
As for Ceuta and Melilla, a total of 3,723 people have entered the autonomous cities irregularly by land this year, 50.2% more than in the same period last year. Thus, 3,396 migrants arrived in the former, 1,010 more than last year, while 327 arrived in the latter, 235 more than in 2024. Finally, five migrants arrived irregularly by sea in Ceuta, compared to 28 last year (82.1% fewer) and 25 in Melilla, compared to 21 in the same period in 2024 (19% more).