Canary Islands Migration Hits Record High in 2024 with Over 41,000 Arrivals

According to Spain’s interior ministry, the Canary Islands recorded a historic 41,425 migrants arriving by boat in 2024, marking a new annual high for the second consecutive year.

This total, covering the period from January 1 to November 30, surpasses 2023’s figure of 39,910 and underscores the growing reliance on the Atlantic migration route. So far, 610 boats have made landfall on the archipelago, a sharp rise from the 530 recorded throughout last year.

The surge follows tighter controls along Mediterranean migration routes, prompting more migrants from Africa to attempt the perilous journey to the Canary Islands. Many flee poverty and conflict, braving strong Atlantic currents in overcrowded and often unseaworthy vessels.

Since 2014, nearly 5,000 lives have been lost on this hazardous route, according to the International Organization for Migration. The Canary Islands, home to just 2.2 million residents, have struggled to manage the increasing arrivals. Regional authorities have raised concerns about stretched resources. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has toured key West African nations—Mauritania, Senegal, and the Gambia—to bolster efforts to curb migration.

Spain remains a key entry point for migrants into Europe, alongside Italy and Greece. By late November 2024, 56,976 migrants had entered Spain illegally, exceeding the 2023 total of 56,852.

As migration numbers rise, pressure mounts on Spanish and regional authorities to implement sustainable solutions to this growing humanitarian and logistical crisis.