The number of illegal border crossings at EU’s external borders in the first nine months of 2021 rose 68% to 133 900*, according to preliminary calculations. This is 47% more than in 2019 before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic when the number of illegal border crossings amounted to 91 000. In September, there were 23 630 illegal border crossings on Europe’s main migratory routes, 40% more than in 2020 when pandemic-related border restrictions were in place. It is also an increase of 17% compared with September 2019.
