The number of people who entered the EU illegally was at its lowest level since 2021, with 239,000 unauthorized border crossings reported by the EU's border agency Frontex in 2024.
This represents a "significant 38% decrease", according to the agency, which regularly publishes statistics on unauthorized border crossings into the EU.
The figures are at their lowest level since 2021, when migration was still affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement.
Primarily, the number of people arriving via the central Mediterranean and the Balkans has decreased.
"Despite sustained migration pressure, intensified EU and partner cooperation against smuggling networks has significantly reduced crossings at Europe's external borders", writes Frontex, which reports 239,000 unauthorized border crossings into the EU in 2024.
