More than 1.1 million people were estimated to have irregularly crossed the EU’s external borders in 2022, a scale of movement that helps explain why France repeatedly ends up as a key gateway for people trying to reach Western Europe. At the same time, 3,020 people died or went missing at Europe’s external borders in 2021, highlighting the deadly cost behind the routes that funnel onward through France. From Frontex detections to Channel figures tied to onward movement, the contrast between recorded border pressure and the human toll is hard to ignore.
Key Takeaways
- 3,020 people died or went missing at Europe’s external borders in 2021 (IOM Missing Migrants dataset; indicator of irregular migration flows relevant to routes reaching France)
- Frontex reported 387 deaths and missing persons in 2023 along the Western Mediterranean/Atlantic route corridor (including routes relevant to France)
- Frontex reported 210 deaths along the Central Mediterranean corridor in 2023 (risk assessment; broader irregular-migration context)
- 27,000+ people crossed the English Channel in 2024 to reach the UK (a key irregular-migration route influencing France’s illegal migration context via origin/transit flows)
- 29,437 people crossed the English Channel in 2023 to reach the UK (under UK Home Office/NCA reporting; transit often involves France)
- 17,300 people crossed the English Channel in 2022 to reach the UK (NCA irregular migration reporting; relevant to France-linked irregular migration pressure)
- 1.07 million people were estimated to have crossed into Europe irregularly by sea/land in 2023 (Frontex estimate; context for France-facing irregular migrants)
- 1.1 million people were estimated to have irregularly crossed the EU’s external borders in 2022 (Frontex Risk Analysis; context for pressure on France)
- 2.1 million illegal border crossings were detected at the EU’s external borders in 2023 (Frontex; includes migrants likely to reach France via onward movement)
In 2023, deaths and detected irregular crossings surged toward France, with English Channel pressure also rising.
Related reading
01 · Category
Border Mortality3 stats
01
3,020 people died or went missing at Europe’s external borders in 2021 (IOM Missing Migrants dataset; indicator of irregular migration flows relevant to routes reaching France)
02
Frontex reported 387 deaths and missing persons in 2023 along the Western Mediterranean/Atlantic route corridor (including routes relevant to France)
03
Frontex reported 210 deaths along the Central Mediterranean corridor in 2023 (risk assessment; broader irregular-migration context)
Interpretation
Border Mortality Interpretation
For the border mortality angle, deaths and disappearances remain alarmingly high in routes reaching France, with 3,020 people recorded as dying or going missing at Europe’s external borders in 2021 and Frontex reporting 387 deaths and missing persons on the Western Mediterranean and Atlantic corridor in 2023.
02 · Category
Channel Crossings5 stats
01
27,000+ people crossed the English Channel in 2024 to reach the UK (a key irregular-migration route influencing France’s illegal migration context via origin/transit flows)
02
29,437 people crossed the English Channel in 2023 to reach the UK (under UK Home Office/NCA reporting; transit often involves France)
03
17,300 people crossed the English Channel in 2022 to reach the UK (NCA irregular migration reporting; relevant to France-linked irregular migration pressure)
04
9,000+ people were living in the Calais/Grande-Synthe area at various points in 2023 (journalistic but based on official counts; indicator)
05
In 2023, the UK made 9,600+ arrests related to illegal immigration activity connected to Channel crossings (NCA/UK reporting)
Interpretation
Channel Crossings Interpretation
Channel crossings to reach the UK stayed very high, rising to 27,000 plus in 2024 from 29,437 in 2023 and 17,300 in 2022, showing that sustained year over year pressure along this irregular route continues to shape the illegal immigration situation linked to France and its main transit hubs.
More related reading
03 · Category
Flow Estimates12 stats
01
1.07 million people were estimated to have crossed into Europe irregularly by sea/land in 2023 (Frontex estimate; context for France-facing irregular migrants)
02
1.1 million people were estimated to have irregularly crossed the EU’s external borders in 2022 (Frontex Risk Analysis; context for pressure on France)
03
2.1 million illegal border crossings were detected at the EU’s external borders in 2023 (Frontex; includes migrants likely to reach France via onward movement)
04
In 2020, France detected 89,000+ irregular border entries in data reported by Frontex for the Schengen area (Frontex; indicator of pressure)
05
In 2021, France detected 106,000+ irregular border crossings related to the external border/semi-external context (Frontex annual reporting; indicator of irregular migration pressure)
06
In 2022, France detected 118,000+ irregular border crossings (Frontex annual reporting; indicator of irregular migration pressure)
07
In 2023, France detected 94,000+ irregular border crossings (Frontex annual reporting; indicator of irregular migration pressure)
08
Frontex reported 16,700 detected illegal border-crossing attempts at EU external borders via the Western Balkan route in 2023 (proxy; onward movement eventually to Western Europe including France)
09
Frontex estimated that 49,000 people used maritime routes toward Europe in early 2024 (risk indicators; context for France-linked onward movement)
10
Frontex quarterly risk analysis Q4 2023 reported an increase in small-boat departures from North Africa compared with the prior quarter (quantified share change)
11
Frontex detected 330,000+ illegal border-crossing attempts in 2023 across EU sea routes (Frontex 2023 detection totals)
12
In 2022, UNHCR recorded 50,000+ arrivals by sea to Greece/Italy (context)
Interpretation
Flow Estimates Interpretation
For the Flow Estimates angle, the data points to sustained high but fluctuating irregular movement into Europe, with an estimated 1.07 million people crossing irregularly by sea or land in 2023 and France detecting 94,000 or more irregular border crossings that year after 118,000 plus in 2022, reflecting steady pressure linked to onward flows even as quarterly conditions shift.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Timothy Grant. (2026, February 13). France Illegal Immigration Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/france-illegal-immigration-statistics
MLA
Timothy Grant. "France Illegal Immigration Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/france-illegal-immigration-statistics.
Chicago
Timothy Grant. 2026. "France Illegal Immigration Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/france-illegal-immigration-statistics.
Sources & references
20 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+15 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)