Nearly a quarter of a million people have reached Europe by crossing the Mediterranean Sea this year, according to new data from the UN refugee agency.

Nearly 3,000 refugees and migrants were estimated to have died or gone missing at sea, compared to 1,847 in the first half of 2015.

The UNHCR reported that some 241,263 people had crossed the Mediterranean as of July 18. Just over one million travelled to Europe by sea last year.

In June and July, Europe experienced a gradual increase in arrivals by sea through the Central Mediterranean route, in comparison to previous weeks, although the figures remain in line with arrival trends from past years.

Those reaching Europe by sea continue to originate mainly from some of the leading refugee-producing countries, including Syria, which accounts for a third of all arrivals, Afghanistan (17 per cent) and Iraq (11 per cent).

In Malta, there has been only one boat arrival this year: a family of five who arrived in May. A total of 786 asylum applications were received by the end of June, nearly half from Libyans, followed by Syrians and Somalis.

Malta has also accepted 23 Eritreans and 18 Syrians from Italy and Greece under the EU relocation and resettlement scheme. This is part of Malta’s ongoing staged fulfilment of its national commitment over a two-year period.

The UNHCR estimates that less than one-third of around 19,000 migrants who arrived by boat from Libya since 2002 remain in Malta.

Beneficiaries of protection have a right to a travel document, and many opt to leave Malta on their own initiative. Over 2,800 beneficiaries have been resettled or relocated to the US and other EU member states.

Correction: This article was amended at 3.30pm on August 19 to reflect the fact that Malta has accepted 41 asylum seekers under a relocation agreement. A previous version mistakenly cited a figure of 26.