English Channel Small Boat Crossings: Numbers and Risks
Quick Look
- Between January and July 2026, 12,469 people crossed the English Channel by small boat, a 45% decrease from the previous year.
- These crossings are the most common illegal entry method since 2020, with arrivals making up 42% of asylum applications.
- Overcrowding has doubled since 2021, increasing risks, with at least 84 deaths in 2024.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Small boat crossings have been the most common method for people to illegally enter the UK since 2020, with nearly all arrivals claiming asylum under international law.
Between 1 January and 13 July 2026, a total of 12,469 people crossed the English Channel by small boat from France. This was down by 45% 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 42% of asylum applications between April 2025 to March 2026.
Boats that arrived in the UK from 14 July 2025 to 13 July 2026 carried an average of 66 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.
