Khaberni - The British Home Office announced the arrival of 41,472 immigrants to the United Kingdom via crossing the English Channel in small boats during the entire year of 2025, marking the second highest annual total since the start of these statistics in 2018.
This figure represents a 13% increase compared to 2024, which recorded 36,816 arrivals, and a 41% increase over 2023, which saw 29,437 arrivals.
Although the number did not surpass the record high of 45,774 immigrants in 2022, it remains the highest since that year, highlighting the continuing crisis of illegal immigration as one of the most prominent political and security issues in Britain.
Britain.. Over 41,000 Illegal Immigrants Arrive in 2025
Significant Increase in 2025
The British authorities explained that the first half of the year saw the arrival of 19,982 people, a record number for this period, and that the largest arrival day was recorded on May 31, 2025, with 1,195 immigrants on 19 boats, and the largest boat in 2025 carried 125 immigrants on September 27.
The British Home Office clarified that the average number of people per boat increased to 62 compared to 53 in 2024 and 49 in 2023, reflecting an increase in density and risk. Meanwhile, illegal immigration operations had a stop period for 28 days without crossing from November 15 to December 12 due to strong winds, followed by a strong resurgence in mid-December with 803 arrivals on December 21—a record for December.
‘Shameful’ Tally for the British Government
The Home Office described the figures as ‘shameful’, affirming that the British people deserve better, and pointed to its measures such as repatriating about 50,000 illegal persons to date, a ‘one-for-one’ agreement with France to return arrivals, and radical reforms announced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to reduce incentives, such as making asylum temporary and extending the period for permanent residence to 20 years.
The crisis of small boat crossings began notably in 2018 with only 299 arrivals, then escalated rapidly to reach its peak in 2022, and from 2018 to the end of 2025, the total arrivals via the channel amounted to 192,610 people, according to the Home Office.
The International Organization for Migration estimates deaths related to the journey to Britain to be more than 36 cases in 2025 alone, while the total since 2018 is estimated at around 152–245 deaths, including other associated incidents.
