Over 5,400 Somalis Reached Europe by Sea and Land in 2025- UN Report Shows

GOOBJOOG NEWS : More than 5,400 Somali migrants made their way to Europe by sea and land between January and August 2025, according to new data from the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM).

The figure represents a threefold increase compared to the same period in 2024, the report by the DTM of the UN International Organization of Migration (IOM) says.

According to the report, Somali migrants were recorded across all major routes into Europe, with the majority arriving in Italy through the Central Mediterranean. A significant number also reached Spain via the Western Mediterranean, while others made their way to Greece and Cyprus through the Eastern Mediterranean route. A smaller group reached Spain’s Canary Islands after crossing the Atlantic route along West Africa.

The findings indicate that Somalis account for nearly four percent of all migrants who have reached Europe so far in 2025, making them among the largest African nationalities arriving on the continent.

DTM said the data is based on surveys conducted in Spain and Italy, noting that no official assessments have yet been carried out in Greece. As a result, figures from the Eastern Mediterranean route are not included in this report but will be updated as field research continues.

Migration experts attribute the surge in Somali migration to a combination of factors, including insecurity, unemployment, and limited economic opportunities at home. Many families, they added, view Europe as a place of safety and better prospects—despite the perilous journeys across the sea that often claim lives.