What is the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats, and how many seek asylum?

Crossing the English Channel and Seeking Asylum in 2024: Key Figures

• Channel Crossings:
  In 2024, nearly 37,000 people crossed the English Channel in small boats, according to figures released on New Year's Day. This marks an increase from 2023 (29,437 crossings) but remains below the peak of 2022, when 45,755 people made the journey. Since record-keeping began in 2018, over 150,000 individuals have crossed the Channel in small boats.

Of those who arrived in 2024, more than 23,000 did so following the Labour Party's victory in the July general election. The government has since announced new measures to combat people smuggling, including tracing smugglers, freezing their bank accounts, and imposing travel bans.

• Deaths and Risks:
  The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that at least 78 migrants died attempting to cross the Channel in 2024, making it the deadliest year on record. Since 2018, 241 migrants have died or gone missing during crossings. The dangers have increased as smugglers cram more people into unseaworthy boats.

• Asylum Applications:
  In the year ending September 2024, over 99,700 people applied for asylum in the UK. This figure is close to the historic peak of 103,000 applications in 2002. Applications have more than doubled since 2021 due to conflicts in countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

• Processing Backlog:
  As of September 2024, 97,170 cases involving 133,409 individuals were awaiting initial decisions, with some waiting years. Despite pledges to clear older cases, thousands remain unresolved.

• Returns:
  In the year ending September 2024, 8,519 individuals were returned to their home countries after their asylum claims were rejected, a 52% increase from the previous year. Returns include those arriving via small boats, although they constitute just 3% of total arrivals since 2018.

• Comparisons with Europe:
  In 2024, over 180,000 migrants arrived in Europe by sea, with Italy, Greece, and Spain receiving the largest shares. The UK ranked fifth among European countries for asylum applications, following Germany, Spain, France, and Italy.

• Additional Context:
  The UK government issued 266,300 visas to Ukrainian refugees in 2024 through legal routes. Germany enacted a new citizenship law in 2024, simplifying naturalization and allowing dual citizenship. Conversely, Finland tightened its citizenship requirements, extending the residency period to eight years.

These figures underscore the complex challenges surrounding migration, asylum, and border management in the UK and Europe.