Since 2014, more than 72 000 migrants have died or gone missing worldwide while attempting to escape conflict, disaster or poverty. The year 2024 marked a particularly devastating peak, with at least 8,938 migrant deaths, which is a record high. In a report published on 29 April 2025, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) highlighted the scale of this ongoing but often overlooked human tragedy. The organisation called for urgent, coordinated action to protect the world’s most vulnerable people.

The UN migration agency reports that half of these deaths occurred in countries affected by conflict or natural disasters. In Afghanistan, more than 5,000 people died in transit, mainly as a result of the political upheaval in 2021. More than 3,100 Rohingya from Myanmar have died, often in shipwrecks or while trying to get to Bangladesh.

Migrating out of desperation, not choice

The report underscores that the majority of migrants embark on these perilous journeys not out of choice, but out of sheer necessity, fleeing insecurity, conflict, disasters and other humanitarian crises. Nearly 72% of recorded deaths are linked to crisis zones. Over 39,000 people perished in hazardous conditions, often trapped in transit, while more than 13,500 lost their lives trying to escape conflict or disaster.

“These figures are a tragic reminder that people are willing to risk everything when insecurity, a lack of opportunity and other pressures leave them with no safe or viable options in their own countries,” said Amy Pope, IOM Director-General, in a statement.

Causes of death in crisis contexts

Deaths resulting from violence are significantly more common in countries experiencing crisis, accounting for 10% of cases, compared to less than 4% in other contexts. Disease and a lack of adequate medical care also contribute more heavily in these regions, responsible for 6% of deaths, versus just 1.5% elsewhere.

“All too often, migrants fall through the cracks,” said Julia Black, coordinator of the IOM’s Missing Migrants Project and lead author of the report. “And because of the lack of data, particularly in conflict and disaster zones, the true number of deaths is likely far higher than what we’ve been able to record.”

The central Mediterranean remains the world’s deadliest migration route. Over the past decade, approximately 25,000 people have disappeared at sea, including more than 12,000 after departing from war-torn Libya. Many others have vanished while attempting to cross the Sahara Desert, the report adds.

Urgent call for a coordinated response

In light of these ongoing tragedies, the IOM is urging governments and humanitarian organisations to strengthen cooperation and ensure that no migrant is left behind during times of crisis. This includes expanding safe and legal pathways for migration, enhancing access to humanitarian aid and healthcare and investing in robust data systems to better identify and protect those most at risk.