Channel Crossings Rise 25% in 2024, Marking Deadliest Year on Record

Over 36,800 migrants crossed to the UK as deaths soared to at least 77, prompting calls for new strategies to address the crisis.

A total of 36,816 migrants crossed the English Channel in 2024, a 25% increase from 2023, but below the 2022 record of 45,774.
At least 77 people died attempting the crossing in 2024, making it the deadliest year since records began in 2018.
The Labour government has focused on dismantling smuggling networks, enhancing international cooperation, and introducing new border security measures.
Critics and organizations like the Refugee Council are urging the UK to create safe and legal migration routes to reduce reliance on dangerous crossings.
Afghans were the largest group of migrants in 2024, followed by Vietnamese, Iranians, and Syrians, reflecting shifting migration patterns.