Migration · Home Office data
Small boat crossings
Explore how detected small-boat arrivals have changed over time — and put the headline number into seasonal and demographic context.
Read the data in contextMonthly arrivals vary substantially with weather and seasonal conditions. The Home Office advises caution when comparing short periods or different times of year. Read the methodology →
Arrivals
Detected small-boat arrivals over time
Total 202616,513vs same period 2025
Total 202529,003same period 2025
Highest month 20262,742June 2026
Highest month 20255,454July 2025
Monthly arrivals — 2026 vs 2025
20262025
Seasonal Pattern
Monthly arrivals by year · darker cells indicate higher volume
The Home Office notes that weather and seasonal conditions can materially affect monthly crossing totals, so short-period comparisons should be treated with caution.
Nationality
Year ending June 2026 · 33,374 total arrivals
Nationality breakdowns come from the Home Office detailed caseworking data and refer to the year ending June 2026 rather than the selected calendar year. “Not currently recorded” is shown explicitly rather than omitted.
Sources: UK Home Office Small boat activity in the English Channel and Immigration system statistics. The live time series is provisional and updated weekly. Detailed IER_D01 data provides breakdowns by method of entry, nationality, region, sex and age group. Home Office small boat activity · Immigration system statistics data tables