In 2024, the UK saw a record-breaking 108,130 asylum claims, marking an 18% increase from the previous year and the highest number since records began in 1979.

Despite the high numbers of arrivals, only 4,995 individuals who came by small boats were returned between 2018 and December 2024, which is about 3% of total small boat arrivals.

Approximately 32% of these asylum seekers arrived via small boats, with the largest numbers coming from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran.

Historically, the peak of asylum claims prior to 2024 was 103,000 in 2002, during significant migrations driven by conflicts in Afghanistan, Somalia, and Iraq.

In 2024, the UK government returned 8,200 individuals who were denied asylum, an increase of 28% from 2023, with a significant number being Albanians.

As of the end of December 2024, there were 90,686 asylum cases pending, reflecting a slight decrease from the previous year but still significantly higher than pre-2022 levels.

That year, nearly 37,000 individuals crossed the English Channel in small boats, although this figure was lower than the peak of 45,755 recorded in 2022.

In response to the ongoing crisis, the UK government has implemented new measures to combat people smuggling, including criminalizing actions that endanger lives at sea.

Among those arriving by small boats, Afghans represented the largest group, followed closely by Syrians, Iranians, Vietnamese, and Eritreans, together accounting for 61% of arrivals.

Tragically, 2024 was the deadliest year for migrants attempting to cross the Channel, with at least 78 fatalities, contributing to a total of 225 deaths since 2018.

The Refugee Council has pointed out that increased dangers during crossings are largely a result of government enforcement efforts, which have led to overcrowded and less seaworthy boats.

Separately, since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the UK has issued 267,200 visas to Ukrainian refugees, which are not included in the asylum statistics.