Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAs of 1 August 2026, 14,526 migrants have arrived in the UK via small boats across the English Channel. This year's total represents a 43 per cent decrease compared to the same period in 2025 and a 14 per cent decrease from 2024. Despite lower overall numbers, the average number of migrants per boat reached a record high of 72 in July 2026, including one dinghy carrying 165 people. In the year to March 2026, Eritrean, Afghan, Sudanese, and Iranian nationals constituted over half of all Channel arrivals. Data for 2025/26 shows that males accounted for 82 per cent of arrivals, with men aged 25-39 and 18-24 forming the largest demographic groups. In fullSmall boat migrant crossings: What the numbers tell us about 2026 so farMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Small boat migrant crossings: The 2026 data so far
Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAs of 1 August 2026, 14,526 migrants have arrived in the UK via small boats across the English Channel. This year's total represents a 43 per cent decrease compared to the same period in 2025 and a 14 per cent decrease from 2024. Despite lower overall numbers, the average number of migrants per boat reached a record high of 72 in July 2026, including one dinghy carrying 165 people. In the year to March 2026, Eritrean, Afghan, Sudanese, and Iranian nationals constituted over half of all Channel arrivals. Data for 2025/26 shows that males accounted for 82 per cent of arrivals, with men aged 25-39 and 18-24 forming the largest demographic groups. In fullSmall boat migrant crossings: What the numbers tell us about 2026 so farMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
