A record 41,425 migrants reached Spain's Canary Islands in the first 11 months of 2024, surpassing last year's total of 39,910 with a month still to go, official data shows. The Atlantic route to the Canary Islands has become increasingly popular for migrants fleeing poverty and conflict in West Africa,

The number of migrants arriving in Spain's Canary Islands by boat from West Africa hit a new annual record in 2024 for the second year in a row, official data showed on Tuesday.

MADRID (Reuters) - The number of migrants reaching Spain's Canary Islands on precarious vessels from West Africa has hit an all-time annual record with 41,425 arrivals between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30 of this year, Interior Ministry data showed on Monday.

In response to a record surge in arrivals in the Canary Islands, Spain plans to provide visas to 900,000 undocumented migrants. The initiative aims to boost Spain's aging labor force by granting 300,000 visas annually over three years and simplifying access to the labor market.

This is the second consecutive year of record-breaking numbers, surpassing last year’s total of 39,910 arrivals. #EuropeNews

STORY: Migrants are arriving in Spain's Canary Islands at record speed this year.Over 39,700 migrants came to the Canaries by mid-November...That's a 23% increase over the previous year, according to Spain's interior ministry.

The number of migrants reaching Spain's Canary Islands on precarious vessels from West Africa amounts to 41,425 arrivals.

Some 41,425 migrants arrived on the islands between January 1 and November 30, according to the figures released Monday. The number surpassed the 39,910 migrants recorded in 2023, which also broke previous records.