WARSAW, POLAND / RankWire.AI / – Preliminary border data indicates a 37% decrease in irregular crossings into the European Union during the first seven months of 2026. Frontex reported approximately 61,000 detections from January through July, a significant drop compared to the same period in 2025. The main migration pathways within the EU experienced overall declines, with activity varying notably between routes across the Mediterranean, Atlantic, and eastern borders.
The Eastern Mediterranean emerged as the busiest route, with 20,232 detections, representing a 28% decline from 28,068 the previous year. The Central Mediterranean recorded 16,454 detections, down 55% from 36,656. These two routes together made up about 60% of all EU entry detections documented in the data. Libya remained the primary departure point for crossings along the Central Mediterranean during this period.
Among the key routes, the Western Mediterranean showed the most significant rise, with detections increasing by 37% to 11,217 from 8,175 in the first seven months of 2025. Sea crossings there totaled 8,648, up from 7,096 the previous year. Land detections until June reached 2,569, compared to 1,079. Conversely, the Western African route experienced a 60% decrease to 4,682, while detections along the Western Balkan route dropped 26% to 4,910. The Eastern Land Border saw a 44% decline, ending at 3,209.
Western Mediterranean’s unique trend from overall decline
Crossings toward the United Kingdom via the Channel also declined sharply. Authorities recorded 22,469 attempted or successful crossings from the EU side, a 46% decrease from 41,647 in the same period last year. These Channel crossings are not included in the overall irregular entry figures into the EU. Additionally, there was a 9% increase in detections on the circular route to Albania, totaling 281. The total for the seven months excludes exceptional activity at Ceuta, Spain, near the end of July.
Frontex based these statistics on initial EUROSUR data and estimates available as of Aug. 4, with potential revisions pending when national authorities submit updated information. Since Frontex reports detections rather than individual migrants, one person may appear multiple times if detected at different locations or during separate attempts. This distinction influences how route totals are interpreted across the dataset.
The July data reinforces the ongoing decline observed in the first half of 2026
The July figures confirm the downward trend reported earlier for the first half of 2026. By June, border authorities recorded over 49,000 irregular crossings, a 37% decrease from 2025. While detections in the Western Mediterranean were 17% higher year-on-year at that point, the seven-month data now shows a 37% increase overall. The Western African route experienced a 67% reduction through June, which slightly narrowed to 60% in the latest data.
The EU’s external borders are supported by roughly 3,800 Frontex officers, who assist national agencies with border management and maritime operations, as well as tasks related to EU migration and asylum policies. The recent data reveals broad declines across most major entry routes in the first seven months of 2026, with the Western Mediterranean as the notable exception. The Eastern and Central Mediterranean routes still account for the largest share of detected irregular entries.