Over 8,500 migrants died worldwide in 2023, a record since the UN began tracking in 2014

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the number of migrant deaths worldwide in 2023 reached a total of 8,565, which is approximately 20% more than the number recorded in 2022. The majority of these deaths, around 3,700, were caused by drowning, primarily during Mediterranean Ocean crossings. It's important to note that the IOM warns that these figures likely underestimate the real toll due to the difficulty of obtaining accurate information on migrant fatalities. In comparison to previous years, the number of deaths in 2023 surpassed the record set in 2016 when 8,084 people died during migration. The Mediterranean Sea crossing remains the deadliest route for migrants, with a total of 3,129 fatalities reported in 2023 compared to 2,411 in 2022.