Dying at the gates of Europe - migrant deaths in Croatia

INTRODUCTION: Croatia is a part of the Western Balkan route, which has been one of the main routes for migrants entering into the European Union (EU). During this journey, many of them die in the territory of Croatia. The aim of this study was to analyze the number of deceased migrants discovered in Croatia over a ten-year period (2015 to 2024), determine how many of them were identified, the identification methods, demographic characteristics, causes of death and country of origin of the identified individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of data on all migrant deaths occurring within the territory of Croatia. The data were collected from autopsy and police records, analyzed and presented using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Between 2015 and 2024, the remains of 125 deceased migrants were recovered in Croatia, with the highest number recorded in 2022 and 2024 (23 cases). The majority of deaths were accidental; 67 individuals drowned, 13 died in traffic-related incidents, and 12 died of hypothermia. Of the total cases, 76 individuals (60.8%) were successfully identified, primarily by visual recognition, followed by DNA analysis and fingerprint comparison. Most of the migrants were male (95.2%), and among identified migrants, majority were aged between 18 and 29 (59.2%). The most common countries of origin were Algeria and Syria (12 individuals each), followed by Morocco (11), and Afghanistan (9). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of migrants deaths in Croatia resulted from accidental causes, often linked to a lack of awareness of hazardous terrain and environmental conditions. Most of the deceased were young men originating from economically and politically unstable countries such as Algeria, Syria, Afghanistan, and Morocco, likely seeking safety and better living conditions in the EU.