During the first eight months of 2025, irregular entries into the European Union decreased by 21 percent, reaching 112,375, according to preliminary figures published on Friday (September 12) by Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.

The Central Mediterranean remained the busiest route, accounting for 37 percent of all irregular entries. From the beginning of 2025 until September 12, Italian government data shows that more than 47,000 migrants arrived by small boat over the Central Mediterranean route towards Italy. Those figures are very slightly increased on the same time period in 2024 and a bit over a third of the numbers that arrived in the same period in 2023.

The majority of departures are from Libya, death toll remains significant

Libya remained the main departure point, where smuggling networks were increasingly using speedboats to maximise profits and avoid detection, the EU agency noted.

The most significant drops in migration crossing attempts were reported along the Western Balkan route (-47 percent), the eastern land border (-44 percent) and Western African route (-52 percent) while irregular crossings on the Western Mediterranean route, towards Spain, increased by 22 percent.

The most frequently reported nationalities arriving in the EU were Bangladeshi, Egyptian and Afghan, Frontex said.

However, despite the general drop in arrivals, the death toll remained significant: the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that 1,131 have died this year while attempting to cross the Mediterranean.

Cooperation explains decrease, says Brunner

European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, wrote on X that "cooperation with origin and transit countries has led to a clear drop in irregular arrivals -- down 21 percent in the first eight months. This is an important signal: fewer dangerous journeys, improved conditions on the ground, and more options to manage migration. We must continue on this course," he concluded.

"Smugglers adapt and new hotspots emerge. That's why we are strengthening migration diplomacy and protecting our external borders, ensuring we control who comes to Europe. The progressive introduction of the Entry-Exit System from October 12 is a key part of this," he added.