The number of people dying or going missing while trying to migrate continues to rise, with nearly 7,900 lives lost in 2025 alone, according to the United Nations’ migration agency, according to Hurriyet Daily News.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on April 21 that at least 7,904 people were reported dead or missing along migration routes worldwide last year. This brings the total number of migrant deaths and disappearances since 2014 to more than 80,000.
However, the agency warned that these figures likely represent only a fraction of the true toll. Many deaths go unrecorded, especially in remote or dangerous areas where migrants travel without official oversight.
The IOM said the growing number of deaths reflects a deeper global failure. With safe and legal migration pathways limited, many people are forced to take risky and irregular routes, often relying on smugglers or crossing harsh terrains and seas.
“Preventable deaths continue to rise,” the agency noted, pointing to reduced humanitarian aid and less available information about safe routes in 2025. These gaps, it said, are making already vulnerable migrants even more invisible.
Beyond those who vanish, the crisis deeply affects families left behind. The IOM estimates that at least 340,000 relatives worldwide are struggling with the emotional, social, and financial consequences of missing loved ones, often without closure or answers.
The agency urged governments to take stronger action and show political will to prevent further loss of life. It also highlighted the upcoming International Migration Review Forum in May 2026 as an opportunity for countries to rethink their approach.
Meanwhile, Spain has taken a different step by launching a large-scale program to regularize undocumented migrants. Beginning April 20, eligible individuals can apply for a one-year renewable residence permit if they have lived in the country for at least five months and have no criminal record.
Spanish authorities say the measure could affect up to 500,000 people, though some estimates suggest the number may be closer to 840,000. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the move both “an act of justice” and a practical step to bring workers into the formal economy.
