The number of migrants in Libya is approaching one million, following the interception and return of more than 27,000 people to the country during 2025, according to the latest data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
During 2025, a total of 27,116 migrants were intercepted at sea and returned to Libya, marking an increase of about 25% compared with 2024. Over the same period, 1,314 people were recorded as dead or missing along the Central Mediterranean route, which includes migration corridors from Libya and Tunisia toward Europe.
Based on the IOM’s most recent Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) assessment, conducted between August and October 2025, the total number of migrants currently in Libya reached 928,839, representing 44 different nationalities.
The figures highlight the continued role of Libya as a major transit and destination country for irregular migration in the Central Mediterranean, as well as the growing humanitarian and protection challenges linked to mixed migration flows, maritime interceptions, and rising risks of death and disappearance at sea.
International agencies have repeatedly warned that the scale of arrivals, combined with ongoing security, economic, and governance pressures, is placing increasing strain on Libya’s capacity to manage migration, provide basic services, and ensure protection for vulnerable groups, including women and children.