A total of 6,408 people arrived irregularly by sea in the Balearic Islands during the first nine months of 2026, representing a 9.7% increase compared with the same period last year, according to the latest figures from Spain's Ministry of the Interior.

The figures cover the period from January 1 through September 30 and were included in the ministry's latest regular report on irregular migration.

A total of 350 boats carrying migrants reached the Balearic Islands during the period, 34 more than during the same period in 2025. This represents an increase of 10.8% in the number of boats.

6,408 arrivals recorded in the Balearic Islands

The 6,408 people recorded in the Balearic Islands represent an increase of 564 compared with the 5,844 recorded during the equivalent period of 2025.

The number of boats also increased, from 316 during the first nine months of 2025 to 350 during the same period this year.

These figures refer to people recorded as arriving irregularly by sea and are cumulative figures for the first nine months of the year.

Balearic trend differs from the national picture

The increase in the Balearic Islands contrasts with an overall decrease in irregular arrivals by sea and land across Spain during the same period.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, 19,900 people arrived irregularly in Spain via the peninsula, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands between January 1 and September 30.

That represents a 19.1% decrease compared with the same period of 2025.

The number of boats involved also fell nationally, with 854 recorded during the first nine months of 2026, 11.7% fewer than a year earlier.

Arrivals to the Spanish mainland also increased

The mainland recorded 6,334 people arriving by sea during the first nine months of the year, an increase of 7.9%.

There were 403 boats, however, representing a 6.3% decrease compared with the same period of 2025.

Canary Islands see a sharp decline

The Canary Islands recorded 7,133 irregular arrivals by sea through September 30.

That was 44.5% fewer people than during the same period in 2025.

The number of boats also declined substantially, with 95 recorded during the period, 55% fewer than a year earlier.

Land arrivals to Ceuta and Melilla

The Ministry of the Interior also reported 4,746 irregular arrivals by land to Ceuta and Melilla during the period when excluding the specific July 30 and 31 episode in Ceuta, which the ministry treats separately.

That figure represents a 64.3% increase compared with the corresponding period of 2025.

September saw continued arrivals to Ibiza and Formentera

The wider Balearic figures include arrivals to Ibiza and Formentera.

Earlier September data showed continued arrivals in the Pitiüsa Islands. By September 23, local reporting based on information supplied by the Delegation of the Government in the Balearic Islands had recorded 31 boats and 473 people arriving in Ibiza and Formentera during the first 23 days of September.

Those figures were based on the Interior Ministry's previous balance, which only covered the period through September 15, so they should not be confused with the final September total for the two islands.

The latest ministry balance used for the Balearic-wide figure runs through September 30, but the published data cited here does not provide a corresponding final September breakdown specifically for Ibiza and Formentera.

A significant change from earlier in the year

The Balearic Islands' year-to-date increase has developed over the course of the summer.

As of September 15, the ministry had recorded 5,627 people arriving in the Balearics, 2.4% more than at the same point in 2025, with 303 boats recorded.

By September 30, the cumulative figures had risen to 6,408 people and 350 boats, bringing the year-on-year increase to 9.7% for people and 10.8% for boats.

What the figures show

The latest data shows that irregular maritime arrivals to the Balearic Islands were higher during the first nine months of 2026 than during the same period in 2025.

At the same time, the national picture was different, with total irregular arrivals across the main maritime and land routes covered by the ministry falling by 19.1%.

The figures are administrative records of detected or registered irregular arrivals. They should not be interpreted as a measure of every attempted crossing or as a direct measure of the total number of people who may have attempted to reach the islands.

For Ibiza and Formentera specifically, the final September figures are not separately detailed in the ministry-wide figures cited above.