174,455 asylum seakers arrived in UK, by boat, between 2020 and July 2025

 

The number of foreign nationals arriving in the UK by small boats across the English Channel has increased significantly in recent years.

Here's a breakdown of arrivals by year, covering roughly the last five years, up to late July 2025:

• 2020: 8,466

• 2021: 28,526

• 2022: 45,774

• 2023: 29,437

• 2024: 36,816

• 2025 (up to end of July): 25,436 (This figure has already surpassed the 25,000 mark earlier in 2025 than in any previous year on record, suggesting 2025 could see a new record high.)

Adding these figures up:

8,466 (2020) + 28,526 (2021) + 45,774 (2022) + 29,437 (2023) + 36,816 (2024) + 25,436 (2025, partial year) = 174,455

So, in the period from 2020 up to the end of July 2025, approximately 174,455 foreign nationals have arrived in the UK by small boats.

It's important to note that the vast majority of these individuals (around 95%) go on to claim asylum in the UK. The most common nationalities among these arrivals have varied but consistently include people from countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Albania, Syria, and Eritrea.

With "Gemini"