According to the latest figures released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 7,667 people have died or gone missing on migration routes in 2025. This number, though a 16.7% decrease from the previous year, is likely an underestimation of the true toll, reflecting the ongoing and serious nature of the migration crisis worldwide. The IOM emphasizes that the reduction in reported fatalities does not diminish the scale of the issue, which continues to present significant risks to migrants trying to reach safer destinations.

The IOM has raised alarms regarding the dangerous conditions many migrants face, often turning to perilous routes due to an absence of safe legal passage. As noted by IOM Director General Amy Pope, when safe pathways are unavailable, individuals are often forced into the hands of traffickers and smugglers, which puts their lives at serious risk. This reality underscores the urgent need for comprehensive measures to dismantle trafficking networks that exploit vulnerable populations, which has been a long-standing call from humanitarian organizations.

These figures and the accompanying calls for action highlight not only the immediate human cost of migration but also the broader implications of global policies that affect mobility and safety. The persistent crisis requires not only national responses but also international cooperation to create safer migration pathways and to ensure the protection of human rights for migrants. The statistics presented by the IOM thus serve as a critical reminder of the urgency of addressing the systemic issues surrounding migration globally.