GENEVA – The year 2024 was the deadliest on record for migrants, with at least 8,938 lives lost worldwide, according to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM). The agency described the staggering toll as both “unacceptable and preventable.”
“The tragedy of the growing number of migrant deaths worldwide is both unacceptable and preventable,” said Ugochi Daniels, IOM’s Deputy Director, emphasizing the devastating human impact behind the statistics.
The actual death toll is likely much higher, the agency warned, as many cases go undocumented due to a lack of official reporting. The identities of most victims remain unknown.
Record Deaths Across Continents
Three regions recorded their highest-ever migrant fatalities in 2024:
Asia: 2,778 deaths
Africa: 2,242 deaths
Europe: 233 deaths
The Mediterranean Sea remained the deadliest migration route, claiming at least 2,452 lives as thousands attempted perilous crossings to reach Europe.
In the Americas, preliminary data indicates at least 1,233 deaths, including an unprecedented 341 fatalities in the Caribbean and a record 174 deaths in the Darien Gap, a treacherous jungle passage between Colombia and Panama that has become a key corridor for migrants seeking entry into the United States.
The IOM continues to urge governments and international bodies to take immediate action to address the root causes of forced migration and implement safer, more regulated pathways to protect vulnerable populations.
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