National statistics

Sea passenger statistics, all routes: 2022

Sea passenger statistics for movements to and from the UK on international and domestic journeys in 2022.

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For the 2023 release, we are moving the publication date to August and we would welcome any comments on the proposed change. If you have any feedback, please email sea passenger statistics.

Annual statistics on the number of sea passengers which include all vehicle drivers, their passengers and foot passengers on ferries and cruise ships.

In 2022:

  • international sea passenger numbers more than doubled to 14.3 million compared to 2021, but remains 31% below 2019 levels

  • domestic sea passenger numbers increased by 26% to 37.4 million, but remains 11% below 2019 levels

  • the total number of international short sea passengers (ferry routes) more than doubled to 12.2 million in 2022 compared to 2021

  • cruise passenger numbers increased from 181,000 in 2021 to 2.0 million in 2022 due to the restart of international cruises in August 2021 after being paused at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020

Guidance on current and previous sea passenger statistics are available.

Contact us

Sea passenger statistics

Email sea-passenger.stats@dft.gov.uk

Public enquiries 020 7944 4847

Media enquiries 0300 7777 878

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Published 26 July 2023