The Balearic Islands have recorded more irregular migrant arrivals than the Canary Islands so far in 2026, according to the latest figures from Spain's Ministry of the Interior.

Between January 1 and September 15, a total of 5,627 people had arrived irregularly in the Balearic Islands, compared with 5,592 in the Canary Islands.

The difference is 35 people, making this the first time the accumulated figure for the Balearic Islands has exceeded that of the Canary Islands in the Ministry's series.

5,627 Arrivals in the Balearic Islands

The latest Interior Ministry bulletin records 5,627 people arriving irregularly in the Balearic Islands by September 15.

That represents an increase of 144 people, or 2.6%, compared with the 5,483 recorded during the same period in 2025.

The arrivals were associated with 303 boats, eight more than during the equivalent period last year, an increase of approximately 2.7%.

These figures concern irregular arrivals recorded by the authorities. They should not be interpreted as the total number of migrants residing in the Balearic Islands.

The Canary Islands Recorded 5,592

The Canary Islands recorded 5,592 irregular arrivals during the same period.

This represents a substantial decrease compared with 2025, with arrivals down by 55.1% according to the Interior Ministry figures.

The sharp reduction in arrivals to the Canary Islands is the main reason the Balearic Islands have moved above the Atlantic archipelago in the year-to-date figures.

The difference between the two regions is therefore relatively small in absolute terms, at 35 people, but represents a notable change in the distribution of irregular maritime arrivals.

The Overall Spanish Figure Is Lower

The change between the two island groups should also be viewed within the wider national picture.

Across Spain, the Interior Ministry recorded 21,906 irregular migrant arrivals by land and sea between January 1 and September 15.

That figure was 16.5% lower than during the same period in 2025.

The figures therefore show that the increase recorded in the Balearic Islands has occurred while the overall number of irregular arrivals recorded across Spain has declined.

The Western Mediterranean Route Has Increased

The figures are part of a broader change in the routes used for irregular migration to Spain.

The Balearic Islands are principally affected by the western Mediterranean route, particularly departures from Algeria.

The Balearic Government has previously highlighted the growth of this route and described the increase as a structural challenge for the islands.

In July, the Govern reported that more than 11,000 people had arrived in the Balearic Islands by boat between January 2025 and July 24, 2026. That figure covered a longer period and therefore should not be directly compared with the Ministry's January-to-September 2026 figure without taking the different time periods into account. 

Formentera Has Been Particularly Affected

Within the Balearic Islands, the distribution of arrivals is not uniform.

Earlier Government figures showed that Formentera had accounted for a particularly large share of arrivals during 2026.

By July 24, the Govern reported 1,857 people arriving in 118 boats on Formentera during the year, compared with 183 people in 10 boats recorded on Ibiza at that point.

The figures underline the importance of looking at individual islands rather than treating the Balearic Islands as a single arrival point. 

New Arrivals Were Also Recorded This Week

The latest comparison comes as further arrivals have continued to be recorded in the Balearics.

On Wednesday, September 16, authorities reported several operations involving people who had arrived in Ibiza, Formentera and Cabrera.

Among the incidents, 29 people were rescued south of Cabrera and another 17 were intercepted on Formentera. Authorities reported those groups to be in apparently good health at the time of intervention.

These individual incidents are separate from the January 1 to September 15 figures in the Interior Ministry bulletin and should not automatically be added to that total without reference to the Ministry's next statistical update.

What the Figures Do and Do Not Show

The latest statistics show a change in the number of irregular arrivals recorded in the Balearic Islands compared with the Canary Islands.

They do not show that more migrants are living in the Balearics than in the Canary Islands, nor do they measure the total migrant population of either region.

They also do not provide information about the circumstances of individual migrants, their nationality, their reasons for travelling or their subsequent legal status.

The figures are specifically a record of irregular arrivals detected by Spanish authorities during the period covered.

A Significant Change in the Migration Map

For years, the Canary Islands have been one of Spain's principal destinations for irregular maritime migration, particularly along the Atlantic route from West Africa.

The latest Interior Ministry figures show a different pattern in 2026, with arrivals to the Canary Islands falling sharply while the number recorded in the Balearics has remained slightly above the previous year's level.

As of September 15, the Balearic Islands therefore stood at 5,627 recorded irregular arrivals, compared with 5,592 in the Canary Islands.

The margin is only 35 people, but it marks the first time the Balearics have exceeded the Canary Islands in the accumulated annual figures published by the Interior Ministry.