A report from the Spanish migration rights group Caminando Fronteras (Walking Borders) revealed that over 10,000 migrants died attempting to reach Spain by sea in 2024. This marks an average of 30 deaths per day, with the overall number of fatalities rising by 58% compared to the previous year.
Many of these migrants set out from West Africa, heading toward the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago located near the African coast. The Canary Islands have become a key transit point for migrants seeking to reach mainland Europe. The majority of the recorded deaths occurred along the perilous Atlantic route, which is considered one of the world’s most dangerous migration paths.
Caminando Fronteras gathers its data from migrant families and official rescue statistics. Among the 10,457 fatalities reported by December 15, 1,538 were children and 421 were women. The months of April and May were particularly deadly.
Caminando Fronteras also highlighted a significant rise in the number of boats departing from Mauritania in 2024. The group noted that Mauritania has become the primary launch point for migrants attempting to reach the Canary Islands.
In February, Spain committed 210 million euros (approximately $218 million) in financial assistance to Mauritania to support efforts in combating human trafficking and preventing the launch of migrant boats. According to Spain’s Interior Ministry, over 57,700 migrants arrived in Spain by sea as of December 15, marking an increase of about 12% compared to the same period last year. The majority of these migrants traveled along the Atlantic route.