Refugees and Migrants at the Balkans Route: Overview of the Data on Arrivals in 2025

Data and Trend Analysis (DATA) Refugees and Migrants at the Balkans Route Regional Overview 2025 describes key trends in migrations in the region, detailing information about the number of people on the move, demography (age, sex, country of origin, etc.), behavioural patterns, and routes in use, with a focus on children.

Key trends:
• The number of newly registered refugee and migrant arrivals declined across first-entry, transit, and destination countries for refugees and migrants arriving in Europe through the Balkans.

• For the second year in a row, significantly more people appear to have passed through Western Balkan countries by not being fully captured by official statistics.

• Future risks and regional pressures: The continued reduction of services supporting protection and inclusion in the Western Balkans warrants closer attention in the context of the forthcoming implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. At the same time, persistent conflicts and severe economic disruption in the Middle East and the Gulf region continue to shape displacement dynamics, with the Eastern Mediterranean and Balkan routes historically playing a central role as pathways for displaced populations.

• The year saw significant reductions in funding and operational capacity of organisations assisting refugees and migrants in the Balkans, leading to growing service gaps and declining availability and quality of data for effective monitoring.