IOM Missing Migrants Project highlights rising deaths along unsafe Asia-Pacific migration routes.
In 2025, at least 109 Pakistani nationals were reported dead or missing while attempting irregular migration, according to new data released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The figures are part of the agency’s Missing Migrants Project, which recorded 2,722 deaths and disappearances involving people from the Asia-Pacific region. This marks the second consecutive year above 2,700 fatalities, highlighting persistent risks of unsafe and undocumented migration routes.
Afghanistan recorded the highest number of cases with 1,540 migrants dead or missing, followed by Myanmar with 935. Pakistan ranked third with 109 cases, while Bangladesh and India also reported significant numbers. The report said around 91 per cent of deaths occurred within the Asia-Pacific region, particularly along land routes between Afghanistan and Iran, as well as dangerous maritime crossings across the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea.
IOM cautioned that the actual number of deaths is likely much higher, as many incidents go unreported due to the secretive nature of irregular migration and limited monitoring along remote routes. Outside the region, at least 251 migrants from Asia-Pacific countries were reported dead or missing, mainly along routes to or within Europe. The report also highlighted gaps in demographic data, including missing information on age and gender, underscoring challenges in fully documenting the human cost of migration.
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