WARSAW, POLAND / RankWire.AI / – During the first seven months of 2026, irregular border crossings into the European Union declined by 37%, based on initial border data. Frontex recorded approximately 61,000 detections from January through July, a decrease compared to the same period in 2025. Most of the EU’s primary migration routes experienced reductions in activity during this timeframe. These figures encompass external border activities and reveal notable disparities among routes across the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and eastern borders.
The Eastern Mediterranean emerged as the busiest route with 20,232 detections, though this was a 28% decrease from 28,068 in the previous year. The Central Mediterranean reported 16,454 detections, down 55% from 36,656. Collectively, these two routes represented about three-fifths of the EU entry detections documented in the data. Libya continued to be the main departure country for crossings along the Central Mediterranean during this period.
The Western Mediterranean experienced the most substantial growth among major routes, with detections rising 37% to 11,217 from 8,175 during the first seven months of 2025. Sea crossings there increased to 8,648 from 7,096, while land detections through June grew to 2,569 from 1,079. Conversely, the Western African route declined by 60% to 4,682, Western Balkan detections fell 26% to 4,910, and the Eastern Land Border decreased 44% to 3,209.
Western Mediterranean Diverges from Overall Downtrend
Crossings toward the United Kingdom via the Channel also saw a sharp decline during this period. Authorities documented 22,469 attempted or successful crossings from the EU side, a 46% drop from 41,647 a year earlier. These Channel figures are separate from the total for irregular entries into the bloc. Data also indicated a 9% increase in detections on the circular route to Albania, totaling 281. The overall seven-month figures exclude extraordinary activity at the external border in Ceuta, Spain, near the end of July.
Frontex compiled the statistics from preliminary EUROSUR information and estimates as of Aug. 4, which may be revised once national authorities submit updated data. Since Frontex reports detections rather than individual persons, one individual might be counted multiple times if detected at different locations or during separate crossing attempts. This distinction influences how route totals are interpreted across the dataset.
Decline Continues in July Data Compared to Early 2026
The July figures confirm the ongoing year-on-year decrease observed in the first half of 2026. By June, authorities had recorded over 49,000 irregular border crossings, representing a 37% reduction compared to 2025. During that period, detections along the Western Mediterranean were 17% higher than the previous year, but the seven-month data increased that to 37%. The Western African route experienced a 67% decline through June, which then narrowed to 60% in the full seven months.
Approximately 3,800 Frontex officers operate at the EU’s external borders, assisting national authorities with border management and maritime operations. They also support member states with tasks related to EU migration and asylum policies. The latest data indicates widespread decreases across most major entry routes during the first seven months of 2026, with the Western Mediterranean as the main exception. Meanwhile, the Eastern and Central Mediterranean routes continued to account for the largest share of detected irregular entries.