Bangladeshi sea arrivals in Italy more than double in early 2025: UNHCR

The number of Bangladeshi nationals reaching Italian shores by crossing the Mediterranean Sea has more than doubled in the first two months of 2025, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

A total of 2,589 Bangladeshis arrived in Italy during January and February this year, a sharp increase from 1,206 over the same period in 2024. In February alone, 1,383 Bangladeshis reached Italy, up from 1,206 in January. In comparison, 621 Bangladeshis arrived in February last year, while 585 made the journey in January, 2024.

The UNHCR disclosed the data in its latest "Italy Sea Arrivals Dashboard" for February, published on its website yesterday.

All Bangladeshi arrivals in the first two months of 2025 had embarked from Libya, the report noted.

With this figure, Bangladesh became the top nationality arriving in Italy by sea during this period. Pakistanis ranked second with 1,201 arrivals, followed by nationals from Syria (659), Egypt (650), and Eritrea (294).

In total, 6,808 refugees and migrants reached Italy by sea in January and February this year, marking a 49 percent increase compared to 4,559 in the same period last year.

Countries of embarkation

In February, 3,329 people arrived in Italy by sea. Of them, 88 percent (2,911) disembarked in Sicily, followed by Calabria (130), Tuscany (112), Sardinia (93), Lazio (43), and Campania (41).

Libya remained the main country of departure for most sea arrivals in the first two months of the year, accounting for 93 percent (6,328 people across 130 landings). Other departure countries included Tunisia (three percent, 186 people), Algeria (two percent, 164 people), and Türkiye (2 percent, 130 people).

Nationality of arrivals

Bangladeshis accounted for 42 percent of all arrivals by sea in February, up from 35 percent in January. Pakistanis made up 12 percent (down from 23 percent in January), while Egyptians represented 11 percent (up from eight percent).

Other significant nationalities included Syrians (6 percent), Eritreans (5 percent), Tunisians (4 percent), and Afghans (3 percent).

Demographics of arrivals

In January and February of 2025, adult males accounted for the majority of sea arrivals in Italy (81 percent), followed by unaccompanied children (11 percent), adult females (4 percent), and accompanied children (3 percent).

In February, 161 adult females and 399 unaccompanied children had arrived.