
AI-generated summary
Small boat crossings of the English Channel have been a significant aspect of UK immigration since 2020, with most arrivals seeking asylum. The data shows a year-on-year decrease in crossings for the first nine months of 2026 compared to 2025, though average boat occupancy has increased, raising safety concerns.
How many people cross the English Channel in small boats?
Between 1 January and 23 September 2026, a total of 18,565 people crossed the English Channel by small boat from France. This was down by 42% on the same period the previous year.
These crossings have become the most common way for people to be detected entering the UK illegally since 2020.
Nearly all those who arrive by small boat claim asylum. Under international law, this means they are allowed to stay in the country while their asylum application is considered.
Small boat arrivals made up 40% of asylum applications between July 2025 to June 2026.
Boats that arrived in the UK from 24 September 2025 to 23 September 2026 carried an average of 67 people. This has more than doubled since 2021.
Experts say overcrowding in boats makes crossings riskier. At least 84 people died while attempting to cross the Channel in 2024, according to the United Nations (UN).
When looking at the scale of small boats crossings, the number of these arrivals is about 5% of the size of total immigration into the UK from January 2025 to December 2025.

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