WARSAW, POLAND / RankWire.AI / – Irregular border crossings into the European Union declined 37% in the first seven months of 2026, based on preliminary figures from Frontex. The agency recorded approximately 61,000 detections at the bloc’s external borders from Jan. 1 through July 31. This total is compared to the same period in 2025. The majority of key migration routes experienced fewer crossings during this time. These figures offer the latest insight into irregular entry activity across the EU’s external frontier.
The Eastern Mediterranean continued to be the most active route, with 20,232 detections, representing a 28% reduction from 28,068 during the same timeframe last year. The Central Mediterranean followed, with 16,454 detections, which is 55% less than 36,656. Collectively, these two routes made up approximately 60% of the detections included in the EU entry figures. Libya remained the primary country of departure along the Central Mediterranean route during the seven-month period.
In contrast, the Western Mediterranean experienced an increase, recording 11,217 detections—a rise of 37% from 8,175 in the previous year. Sea crossings on this route reached 8,648, compared to 7,096 in 2025. Land detections through June totaled 2,569, up from 1,079. The Western African route saw a 60% decline, with 4,682 detections. Crossings through the Western Balkans decreased by 26% to 4,910, while Eastern Land Border crossings dropped 44% to 3,209.
Mediterranean routes dominate EU border detections
Additional data regarding crossings through the United Kingdom showed a significant decline. Frontex reported 22,469 attempted or successful crossings leaving the EU, down 46% from 41,647. These Channel crossing figures are not included in the EU entry total. The agency also noted 281 detections on the circular route to Albania, an increase of 9%. The seven-month data exclude exceptional events at the external border in Ceuta, Spain, at the end of July.
Frontex based these statistics on preliminary EUROSUR data and estimates available as of Aug. 4. The agency indicated that future revisions are possible as authorities update the information. These statistics reflect detection counts rather than individual persons, meaning one individual could be counted multiple times after crossing at different locations or on separate occasions. This distinction is crucial when comparing route-specific totals with the overall number of people involved.
Seven-month data confirm ongoing decline in crossings during first half of 2026
The current figures extend the trend observed after the first half of 2026, when Frontex reported over 49,000 irregular border crossings—also a 37% decrease compared to the previous year. At that time, detections on the Western Mediterranean were 17% higher than in 2025, but the seven-month comparison shows an increase of 37%. The Western African route experienced a 67% decline through June, with a 60% decrease by July.
Frontex states that approximately 3,800 officers are deployed at the EU’s external borders. Their responsibilities include supporting national authorities in border management and conducting operations focused on saving lives at sea. Additionally, Frontex personnel assist member states with the rules established under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. The latest data reveal uneven trends across different routes, with significant declines on most major corridors but an uptick on the Western Mediterranean route.