Most people arriving in the UK by small boats are young men. Home Office figures suggest about 75–85% are adult males under forty. This reflects wider patterns, as families often send younger men first to make the dangerous journey and later apply for family reunion.

But it’s not only young men: women, children, and vulnerable people also cross, though in smaller numbers. While the stereotype is partly true, it doesn’t lessen the legitimacy of their asylum claims, many of which come from war, persecution, or forced conscription.

Families are part of the story, but they’re often less visible than the young men. Many families do remain in war-torn countries, either because the journey is too dangerous for children or because they don’t have the money to move everyone at once. In other cases, wives and children may be in neighbouring countries like Turkey, Jordan, or Pakistan, living in refugee camps or in precarious rented housing.

Some families are in northern France too, including Calais, but the camps there are harsh and not well suited for children. That’s partly why you see fewer women and children making the small-boat crossings, the risks are just too high.

When men make the journey first, it’s often with the hope of applying for family reunion once they’ve been granted refugee status in the UK. Under current rules, recognised refugees can usually bring over their spouse and dependent children through a legal route, but not parents, siblings, or adult children. The backlog and strict rules mean that many families remain separated for long periods, which adds to the suffering.