More than 1,300 migrants have died trying to reach the Spanish coast in 2026
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More than 1,300 migrants died while attempting to reach Spain during the first five months of 2026, according to a report published on Wednesday by advocacy group Caminando Fronteras (Walking Borders).
The report, released ahead of Pope Leo’s visit to Spain’s Canary Islands, said 1,317 people lost their lives on migration routes to the Spanish coast between January and May. The figure includes 142 women and 129 children.
According to the group, 27 boats disappeared during the period with everyone on board presumed lost.
The Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the northwest coast of Africa, have experienced a surge in irregular migration over the past decade. The shortest distance between the islands and the West African coast is about 100 kilometres (62 miles).
Pope Leo has focused attention on the treatment of migrants during his visit to Spain this week, describing their situation as a challenge to the ethical foundations of the international order.
Rights groups say migrants are increasingly taking longer and more dangerous routes across the Atlantic Ocean in an effort to avoid detection, as authorities intensify efforts to prevent crossings in countries such as Mauritania, which lies close to Europe.
The report follows figures from 2025, when 3,090 people either died or disappeared while trying to reach the Spanish coast.
In addition to the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands, migrants also attempt to reach Spain from Morocco by crossing a stretch of water that is roughly 20 kilometres wide, sometimes by swimming.
