The figures were published on October 13, 2026, in a report titled Europe: Main West African Nationalities Among Sea Arrivals to Europe in 2025 and 2026. The report tracked arrivals from Mali, Senegal, Guinea and The Gambia across three major maritime migration routes.
Between January and June 2026, a total of 4,566 migrants from the four countries were recorded arriving in Europe through these routes. This represents a considerable reduction from the estimated 11,137 arrivals recorded during the first half of 2025.
Despite the decline, the IOM cautioned that fewer arrivals along established routes do not necessarily mean that fewer people are attempting to reach Europe. Instead, tighter border controls and other restrictions may be pushing migrants towards alternative routes, some of which expose them to greater dangers.
IOM Director General Amy Pope warned that changes in arrival figures must be considered alongside the wider challenges migrants face throughout their journeys.
“Fewer arrivals in one place doesn’t mean the pressures have gone away,” Pope said, explaining that migration pressures often shift to other routes. She stressed the importance of examining the entire journey, from the point of departure to the final destination.
The report identified the West African Atlantic Route as the main maritime pathway used by migrants from the region travelling towards Europe. Between January and June 2026, West African nationals accounted for 83% of arrivals recorded along this route.
Of the 4,566 migrants from the four countries recorded during the period, 1,589 were from Mali, 1,184 from Senegal, 1,076 from Guinea and 919 from The Gambia. Most of the arrivals were recorded in Spain, where the number of people from the four countries fell by 59% compared with the corresponding period in 2025.
However, the figures also point to changing migration patterns across other routes. Along the Western Mediterranean Route, the proportion of arrivals involving West African nationals rose from 15.6% in 2025 to 21.9% in the first half of 2026.
A similar increase was recorded along the Central Mediterranean Route, where West African nationals accounted for 10.5% of arrivals during the first half of 2026, compared with 8.6% in 2025.
These figures suggest that while the overall number of arrivals from the four West African countries has declined, their share of migration along the two Mediterranean routes has increased. The development highlights the possibility that some migrants are changing their routes in response to shifting border controls and other pressures.
The IOM also raised concerns about the dangers associated with the Atlantic route. Although arrivals have fallen, deaths and disappearances remain a serious concern, underscoring the risks faced by people attempting to reach Europe through irregular migration channels.
More than 60,300 Nigerians assisted to return home
The dangers of irregular migration have continued to affect thousands of Africans who leave their countries in search of better jobs, higher incomes and improved living conditions. Some become stranded along the way, while others experience exploitation, abuse and life threatening conditions before receiving assistance to return home.
In March 2026, Zoyols Blog reported that more than 60,300 Nigerian migrants had returned to the country through assisted voluntary return programmes since 2017. Many had encountered serious difficulties while attempting to reach their intended destinations.
The assisted return initiative has provided support to Nigerians stranded along dangerous migration routes, including people who faced abuse and other forms of exploitation during their journeys.
The number represents a substantial increase from December 2020, when approximately 16,800 Nigerians had received assistance to return home through an initiative supported by the IOM and the European Union. The programme, which began in 2017, was designed to help migrants return safely and support their reintegration into their communities.
The figures illustrate the scale of the challenges associated with irregular migration and the continuing need for measures that protect migrants while addressing the economic and social pressures that drive people to leave their countries.
UK and US tighten immigration requirements
The decline in arrivals from the four West African countries comes as several Western governments introduce stricter immigration policies, tighten eligibility requirements and strengthen border controls. These changes have also affected legal routes for people seeking employment, education and long term residency abroad.
The countries making it more difficult for Nigerians to relocate, highlighting changes to immigration rules that could affect people seeking opportunities outside the country.
The United Kingdom is among the countries that have tightened requirements for foreign workers. In July 2025, the government raised the skill threshold for most Skilled Worker visas to occupations requiring degree level qualifications. It also increased the standard minimum salary threshold from £38,700 to £41,700, subject to applicable exceptions.
The UK government also stopped accepting new overseas applications for care worker and senior care worker positions, closing a migration route that had previously attracted many foreign workers, including Nigerians.
Further changes are expected to affect international graduates. From January 1, 2027, the duration of the UK’s Graduate visa is scheduled to fall from two years to 18 months for most eligible applicants, while doctoral graduates will continue to qualify for a three year period.
The United States has also recorded a rise in the rejection of certain immigration related applications, adding to the challenges faced by foreign nationals seeking to live and work in the country.
On October 13, 2026,The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services had denied 35,767 work permit applications from foreign nationals seeking Green Cards between April and June 2026. The reported figures also showed that the rejection rate had climbed to 44%.
The combination of tighter immigration requirements, changing migration routes and the dangers associated with irregular journeys continues to shape the choices available to people seeking better opportunities abroad. For migrants from West Africa, the fall in arrivals recorded during the first half of 2026 offers only part of the picture, as the risks and pressures driving migration remain significant.
