West and Central Africa — Irregular Migration Routes to Europe — Western African Atlantic Route (January - December 2022)

This document presents the resumption of migration from the coasts of West Africa to the Canary Islands (Spain). This route, already active in 2006, saw an increasing number of movements in 2022. The risks, deaths and disappearances following shipwrecks are also on the rise along the Atlantic coasts.

Between January and December 2022, 15,682 people reached the Canary Islands irregularly after crossing by boat from the coasts of West Africa, a decrease of 30%, or 6,634 people compared to 2021 (22,316). It is the first time since the increase in crossings was first recorded in 2019 that this number has fallen.

Nevertheless, risks and dangers along the West African Atlantic route remain and 45 shipwrecks were recorded along this route in 2022, resulting in the death or disappearance of 543 migrants.