More than 72,000 migrants have died or gone missing while trying to reach safety since 2014, according to the United Nations. The shocking number was revealed in a new report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), part of the UN, which tracks global migration.
The report shows that 2023 was the deadliest year on record, with at least 8,938 people dying on migration routes. Most of these deaths happened in countries facing crises such as war, poverty, or natural disasters.
Amy Pope, the head of the IOM, said many people take dangerous journeys because they have no safe options at home. “These numbers are a tragic reminder that people risk their lives when insecurity and lack of opportunity leave them no choice,” she said.
The IOM’s Missing Migrants Report explains that nearly 75% of migrant deaths since 2014 happened in areas where people were fleeing from conflict or humanitarian disasters. Thousands of Afghans, Rohingya, and Syrians have died while trying to escape dangerous conditions in their home countries.
More than 52,000 people died while fleeing from one of 40 countries where the UN has emergency aid plans in place. The Central Mediterranean Sea remains the world’s deadliest migration route, with nearly 25,000 people lost in the last 10 years—many departing from Libya. Others have vanished in the Sahara Desert, which also poses extreme risks.
Afghanistan has seen more than 5,000 migration deaths since 2014, especially after the Taliban took control in 2021. The Rohingya people from Myanmar, who often face persecution, have also suffered greatly, with more than 3,100 dying, many during dangerous sea crossings.
Julia Black, who leads the IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, said the actual number of deaths may be much higher. “Too often, migrants fall through the cracks. And because of limited data, especially in war zones, we may never know the real total,” she explained.
The IOM is calling for more global investment in local communities so people can stay in their home countries safely. It also urges governments to create legal and safe migration paths to protect people and reduce future tragedies.
What does the UN say about migrant deaths?
Since 2014, over 72,000 migrants have died or gone missing, with most fleeing crises. The IOM urges safer, legal migration options.