France Says It Rescued 6,177 Migrants Attempting Channel Crossings in 2025

French maritime authorities report they rescued 6,177 people who attempted to cross the English Channel in small boats during 2025, while 25 people died and two remained missing, the Channel and North Sea maritime prefecture (PREMAR) said in its annual report.

Key Findings From PREMAR's 2025 Report

PREMAR said nearly 50,000 people aboard 795 boats tried to make the crossing from France to the United Kingdom last year. An AFP tally drawing on French and British official sources puts the overall death toll at at least 29.

"Attempts have not slowed down," PREMAR said, warning that smugglers are exposing migrants to increasing danger.

The report highlights several worrying trends: the average number of people per boat rose sharply — from about 26 in 2021 to 63 in 2025 — and in 2025 ten boats carried more than 100 people each. Authorities have also documented continued use of so-called "taxi boats," which leave shore nearly empty and return to pick up dozens of people wading through shallow water.

Statistics At A Glance

• People rescued by French authorities: 6,177
• Deaths reported by PREMAR: 25 (two missing); AFP tally: at least 29
• People attempting crossings from France: ~50,000 aboard 795 boats
• British-recorded small-boat arrivals in 2025: 41,472 — the second-highest annual total after 2022
• Average passengers per boat: 63 in 2025 (up from 26 in 2021)

PREMAR's findings underline the continued humanitarian and safety challenges in the Channel. Authorities on both sides of the Channel face pressure to manage rising crossings and to disrupt smuggling networks that increasingly use overcrowded vessels and covert pickup methods.

Sources: PREMAR annual report; AFP tally; British official figures.