36.816 people crossed the English Channel in small boats through 2024
The UK Home Office released provisional figures showing that more than 36.000 people were detected in 2024, making the crossing of the English Channel in small boats. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) estimates that at least 78 migrants died trying to cross the Channel in 2024.
In 2024, 36.816 migrants attempted to cross the English Channel in small boats without permission to enter the UK. This is higher than in 2023, when 29.437 persons were detected, but it's less than in 2022, when 45.755 people made the crossing.
Based on (29.851) crossings detected from January to September 2024, Afghans and Vietnamese were the 2 most common nationalities amongst small boat arrivals; however, compared with the same 9-month period in the previous year, the number of Afghan arrivals has decreased by 14%, but the number of Vietnamese arrivals has increased by 177%.
The UK government aims to strengthen its partnerships, inter alia with Belgium and other countries from the Calais group, and to enhance joint efforts to investigate, arrest, and prosecute people-smuggling gangs facilitating these crossings.
For further information, please read the latest statement in response to small boat crossings. For more data on small boat arrivals, please visit this webpage.