Illegal migration to the European Union decreased by more than 50% over the last two years.

Omissions

• The '>50%' figure only holds when 2025 (about 178,000) is compared with the 2023 peak year (about 380,000); on a year-on-year basis 2025 fell by only 26% versus 2024, so the choice of the 2023 peak as the baseline amplifies the decline.
• 'Illegal migration' is measured here as Frontex detections of irregular border crossings at the EU's external borders — a standard proxy, not the number of persons present irregularly nor all forms of irregular migration.
• The period described as 'the last two years' is imprecise: the confirmed two-year comparison is 2023 vs 2025, whereas from the session date (Sept 2026) a literal reading would be 2024–2026, for which 2026 data are only partial (first eight months down 35% vs the same period of 2025).
• Frontex itself cautions that the downward trend could reverse and that Europe 'must stay prepared', and attributes the fall to a combination of factors, not solely to policy.

Sources

• PrimaryFrontex — Irregular border crossings down 26% in 2025"...by over one-quarter (26%) in 2025 to almost 178 000. This is less than half the total recorded in 2023 and the lowest level since 2021."
• PrimaryFrontex — InBrief 2025"In 2025, the number of irregular border crossings at the European Union's external borders reached a total of just over 178 000."
• PrimaryFrontex — Irregular border crossings into the EU down 1/3 in first 8 months of 2026"Frontex preliminary data show irregular border crossings into the EU fell by 35% in the first eight months of 2026, with nearly 75000 ..."