Record migration to Europe

For the month of October 2015, a record number of migrants, 218,394, entered Europe across the Mediterranean Sea, emigrating from North Africa or the Middle East. The vast majority, 210,000, entered Europe through Greece. The total number of migrants in October was nearly equal to the number of migrants who arrived in Europe in all of 2014. 

In all of 2015, nearly 750,000 migrants and refugees made their way to Europe, mostly to escape conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Somalia. Many made the crossing in perilous conditions. As of press time, an estimated 3,440 people had died in the attempt. 

After entering Greece, most migrants have sought to cross by land into Central Europe, specifically, to Germany. Border closures by Hungary and Macedonia have stranded some migrants.