By Alhaji Haruna Sani
Omar, an Ethiopian migrant, is treated for dehydration and exhaustion by IOM’s Mobile Unit in the Djiboutian desert. Chances of survival are low for migrants crossing the desert in extreme temperatures and the weakest are often left behind. Photo: IOM 2020/Alexander Bee.
According to new data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) at least 8,938 people died on migration routes worldwide in 2024, making it the deadliest year on record.
The latest figures continue a five-year trend of increasing migrant deaths, surpassing the previous record of 8,747 deaths in 2023. The alarming rise has prompted renewed calls for an international response to prevent further loss of life.
“The tragedy of the growing number of migrant deaths worldwide is both unacceptable and preventable. Behind every number is a human being, someone for whom the loss is devastating,” said IOM Deputy Director General for Operations, Ugochi Daniels. “The increase in deaths across so many regions in the world shows why we need an international, holistic response that can prevent further tragic loss of life.”
The data reveals that 2024 was not only the deadliest year globally but also across most regions, including Asia, Africa, and Europe. The highest number of fatalities was recorded in Asia, where 2,778 migrants lost their lives. Africa followed with 2,242 deaths, while Europe reported 233 fatalities.
In the Mediterranean, 2,452 deaths were documented in 2024. While not the highest annual total for the region, the significant number underscores the urgent need for improved search and rescue operations and safer, regulated migration pathways.
In the Americas, at least 1,233 deaths were recorded, with final data still pending. The Caribbean saw an unprecedented 341 migrant deaths, while a record 174 people lost their lives attempting to cross the treacherous Darién Gap between Colombia and Panama.
Violence remained a leading cause of migrant deaths, accounting for at least 10 percent of fatalities since 2022. In 2024, nearly 600 migrants died due to violence while traveling through South and Southeast Asia.
However, experts warn that the actual number of migrant deaths and disappearances is likely much higher. Many cases remain undocumented due to a lack of official sources, and the identities of most victims are unknown.
“The rise in deaths is terrible in and of itself, but the fact that thousands remain unidentified each year is even more tragic,” said Julia Black, coordinator of IOM’s Missing Migrants Project. “Beyond the despair and unresolved questions faced by families who have lost a loved one, the lack of more complete data on risks faced by migrants hinders lifesaving responses.”
The IOM’s upcoming annual report will provide a detailed analysis of migrant deaths in 2024, along with new insights on missing migrants in humanitarian crises.
The organization stresses that the rising death toll highlights the urgent need for legal and safe migration routes as the only sustainable solution to preventing further tragedies.
