Migrant arrivals to Italy fall 30% in first half of 2026, UNHCR says
Nearly 2,800 migrants arrived in Italy by sea in June, marking a 10% decrease compared with the previous month, according to data from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
Since the beginning of 2026, a total of 14,388 migrants have reached Italy by sea, representing a 30% decline compared with the same period in 2025.
The UNHCR said that 56% of all arrivals so far this year have involved Lampedusa.
On the humanitarian front, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that 1,400 people lost their lives in the Mediterranean during the first six months of 2026. According to the agency, 62% of those deaths occurred along the central Mediterranean route.
Since January, Libya has remained the main country of departure, accounting for 83% of migrant landings in Italy. Algeria and Tunisia together accounted for a further 8%.
The UNHCR said that, between January and June, migrants from Bangladesh made up 30% of arrivals, followed by Somalia at 11% and Sudan at 10%.
The agency also reported that unaccompanied minors represented 19% of all sea arrivals during the first half of the year.
Between January and June 2026, 22% of people arriving by sea were rescued in the Mediterranean by non-governmental organisations, according to the UNHCR.
