French authorities rescued more than 6,000 migrants who were trying to cross the English Channel to Britain in small boats in 2025, according to an annual report released on Friday by France’s maritime authorities.
The report said that at least 25 people died during the dangerous crossings last year, while two others remain missing. An independent count by AFP, using both French and British official data, puts the total number of deaths at no fewer than 29.
France continues to be a major departure point for migrants hoping to reach the United Kingdom in search of better living conditions and job opportunities. Despite the serious risks involved, officials say attempts to cross the Channel have not slowed down.
According to the maritime prefecture for the Channel and the North Sea (PREMAR), nearly 50,000 migrants attempted the crossing in 2025. These journeys were made using 795 small and often overcrowded boats.
French rescue teams saved 6,177 people during the year, but authorities warned that human smugglers are putting migrants in increasing danger. The report noted that the number of people packed into each boat has risen sharply, from an average of 26 passengers in 2021 to about 63 in 2025. In some cases, boats carried more than 100 people.
Officials also raised concern over the continued use of so-called “taxi boats.” These boats leave the shore with very few people on board, then stop offshore to pick up dozens of migrants who wade into the water to board, making detection harder and the journey more risky.
On the British side, authorities recorded 41,472 migrants arriving by small boats in 2025. This was the second-highest annual figure on record, after the peak of 45,774 arrivals in 2022.
The issue remains a major political challenge in Britain, where the government faces pressure to reduce migrant arrivals. Meanwhile, French authorities say rescue operations will continue, but warn that overcrowding, unsafe boats, and smuggling networks are making the crossings increasingly deadly.
