London: Since the beginning of 2023, Afghans have made up the majority of those taking small boats across the English Channel to the UK.

According to UK Home Office data, a total of 909 Afghans were identified as having travelled during the first three months of the year, accounting for 24 percent of the 3,793 total travellers.

Seven of the top 10 most represented nations were made up of migrants from Muslim-majority nations, with notable numbers coming from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Sudan, and Turkiye as they travelled from France to the UK.

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Just 29 Albanians attempted the crossing between January and the end of March, a sharp decline from the three-month period's previous high of migratory activity from the country with a majority of Muslims. 

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12,301 Albanians crossed the English Channel to the UK last year, but Home Office officials anticipate that this year's low numbers will rise sharply over the summer as opportunities for seasonal work become available. 

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Around 18% of travellers this year were Indians, who made up the second-largest cohort overall. The Indian government attributes this to political and religious unrest in the nation's northwest Punjab region.