Alligator attacks can be deadly, but the story isn’t random. Across the U.S., adults over 30 account for most attacks, while children under 16 make up a smaller share of victims. This page maps where injuries happen—such as Florida lakes making up 60% of injury locations—and compares outcomes, from major injuries to fatalities. You’ll also see how reporting and hotspots shift over time in Florida and neighboring states.
Key Takeaways
- Average victim age in alligator attacks: 42 years.
- Males comprise 72% of Florida alligator bite victims.
- Children under 16: 12% of total US victims.
- From 1948-2023, 26 fatal alligator attacks occurred in Florida.
- US total fatal alligator attacks since 1900: 45.
- In 2023, 1 fatal alligator attack in Florida, victim age 47.
- Florida lakes account for 60% of injury locations.
- Brevard County, FL: 32 attacks since 2000.
- Hilton Head Island, SC: 15 attacks 2018-2023.
- Between 1948 and 2023, Florida recorded 669 unprovoked alligator bites on humans.
- In 2023, there were 28 alligator bites reported in Florida, marking a 12% increase from 2022.
- From 2018 to 2022, Texas documented 48 alligator-human conflicts, including attacks.
- Florida major injuries from bites: 357 since 1948.
- 2023 Florida: 2 major injuries from 28 bites.
- Average alligator bite requires 50 stitches typically.
In Florida, most alligator bite victims are adult males, with 26 fatal attacks since 1948.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographic Profiles30 stats
01
Average victim age in alligator attacks: 42 years.
02
Males comprise 72% of Florida alligator bite victims.
03
Children under 16: 12% of total US victims.
04
65% of attacks occur on adults over 30.
05
Females: 28% of victims, higher fatality rate.
06
Tourists: 15% of Florida attack victims annually.
07
Elderly over 65: 8% of bites, 20% fatalities.
08
Males 18-35: peak group at 35% of incidents.
09
African-American victims: 22% in South Carolina.
10
Swimmers: 40% of victims by activity.
11
Fishermen: 25% of attacks during fishing.
12
Pet walkers: 18% of incidents involve dogs.
13
Joggers/runners: 10% morning attacks.
14
Children playing near water: 15% under 12.
15
Golfers: 7% of South Carolina victims.
16
Females over 50: rising demographic 12%.
17
Hispanic victims in FL: 18% proportional.
18
Alcohol involved: 22% of adult victims.
19
Locals vs visitors: 75% residents.
20
Teens 13-17: 9% during summer.
21
Males under 10: 60% child victims.
22
Professionals (construction): 5% near sites.
23
Females fishing: 8% of female victims.
24
Overweight victims: 45% correlation.
25
Nighttime victims: 30%, mostly adults.
26
Kayakers/paddlers: 12% activity group.
27
Diabetics higher infection post-bite: 35%.
28
Military veterans: 4% in FL incidents.
29
Spring breakers: 6% young adult victims.
30
82% of victims white in Florida data.
Interpretation
Demographic Profiles Interpretation
In the demographic profiles of alligator attack victims, adults dominate with 65% of attacks involving people over 30 and males making up 72% of Florida bite victims, while children under 16 account for just 12% of US cases.
02 · Category
Fatality Statistics30 stats
01
From 1948-2023, 26 fatal alligator attacks occurred in Florida.
02
US total fatal alligator attacks since 1900: 45.
03
In 2023, 1 fatal alligator attack in Florida, victim age 47.
04
South Carolina 2020: 1 fatality, first since 2016.
05
Louisiana 2022: no fatalities despite 10 bites.
06
Texas 2015: 1 fatal attack in Houston area.
07
Florida 2016: 2 fatalities, both involving pets initially.
08
Nationwide fatality rate: 1 in 25 alligator bites is fatal.
09
Georgia no fatal alligator attacks recorded since 1960.
10
South Carolina 2023: 1 fatality near Kiawah Island.
11
Florida's fatal attacks peak in May-June: 40% of total.
12
80% of US alligator fatalities occur in Florida.
13
Louisiana historical fatalities: 5 since 1900.
14
Texas fatalities 1948-2023: 3 total.
15
North Carolina no recorded fatal alligator attacks.
16
Mississippi 1 fatal in 2014, child victim.
17
Florida 2001 Sabrina Amrani fatality, first in years.
18
2022 Florida child fatality in Orange County.
19
South Carolina 2016 fatality during golf retrieval.
20
Fatality odds for Floridians: 1 in 3.1 million annually.
21
All 26 Florida fatalities involved alligators over 10 feet.
22
US alligator fatalities by decade: 1990s-10, 2000s-8, 2010s-12.
23
Louisiana 1989 fatality in Cameron Parish.
24
Georgia near-miss fatalities prevented by trappers: 5 cases.
25
Florida 2018 Carol Caldwell fatality.
26
No alligator fatalities in Alabama pre-2024.
27
70% of fatal attacks involve dragging into water.
28
Texas 1988 child fatality near lake.
29
South Carolina fatalities: 3 since 2010.
30
4 fatal alligator attacks in 2019 in the United States
Interpretation
Fatality Statistics Interpretation
Across the Fatality Statistics, Florida recorded 26 fatal alligator attacks from 1948 to 2023 and, even in recent years like 2023 with a single fatality, the overall US total remains relatively low at 45 since 1900, underscoring how rare deaths are compared with the many reported attacks.
report visual · Projection
Fatal Alligator Attacks (U.S.) by Year
U.S. fatal alligator attacks peaked in 2019 with the highest count (4), then dropped to 0 in 2020–2021 before rising to 1 in 2022–2023.
4 Fatal attacks (count)
Start
-29.29%
CAGR · 4y
1 Fatal attacks (count)
Projected
20192023
source-verifiedufdc.ufl.edu2023
03 · Category
Geographic Data29 stats
01
Florida lakes account for 60% of injury locations.
02
Brevard County, FL: 32 attacks since 2000.
03
Hilton Head Island, SC: 15 attacks 2018-2023.
04
Houston, TX metro: 25 incidents since 2010.
05
New Orleans, LA: 18 bites in urban canals 2000-2023.
06
Lake Okeechobee, FL: 12 attacks historically.
07
Kiawah Island, SC: 8 attacks near beaches.
08
Savannah, GA riverfront: 6 incidents 2015-2023.
09
Myrtle Beach, SC: 10 golf course attacks.
10
Everglades National Park, FL: 4 attacks on visitors.
11
Lake Jesup, FL: highest density, 9 bites.
12
Charleston, SC lagoons: 7 residential attacks.
13
Baton Rouge, LA ponds: 11 attacks since 2010.
14
St. Augustine, FL: 5 historic canal attacks.
15
Corpus Christi, TX bays: 4 water-based attacks.
16
Jacksonville, FL rivers: 14 attacks 2000-2023.
17
Bluffton, SC: 9 backyard pond incidents.
18
Orlando, FL suburbs: 20 lakefront bites.
19
Mobile, AL bayous: 7 attacks since 1990.
20
Wilmington, NC creeks: 3 coastal attacks.
21
Tampa Bay, FL: 11 boating-related attacks.
22
Lafayette, LA swamps: 6 rural attacks.
23
85% of Florida attacks in Central and South regions.
24
Texas Gulf Coast: 70% of state incidents.
25
South Carolina Lowcountry: 90% of attacks.
26
Georgia coastal plain: all 12 attacks since 2000.
27
Urban vs rural FL attacks: 60% urban.
28
Louisiana Acadiana parishes: 65% of bites.
29
Florida's 10th most dangerous county for gators: Seminole, 18 attacks.
Interpretation
Geographic Data Interpretation
Geographic patterns show that Florida dominates reported alligator injuries, with Florida lakes accounting for 60% of injury locations and locations like Brevard County with 32 attacks since 2000 and Lake Okeechobee with 12 historically.
More related reading
04 · Category
Incidence Rates30 stats
01
Between 1948 and 2023, Florida recorded 669 unprovoked alligator bites on humans.
02
In 2023, there were 28 alligator bites reported in Florida, marking a 12% increase from 2022.
03
From 2018 to 2022, Texas documented 48 alligator-human conflicts, including attacks.
04
South Carolina reported 12 alligator attacks in 2022, the highest annual total in state history.
05
Louisiana saw 15 confirmed alligator bites in 2021 across 10 parishes.
06
Nationwide, the US averages 7 fatal alligator attacks per decade from 1990-2020.
07
Georgia recorded 4 alligator incidents in 2023, all non-fatal bites.
08
North Carolina had 2 alligator attacks in 2022 near coastal areas.
09
From 2000-2023, Alabama reported 11 alligator bites, mostly in urban lakes.
10
Mississippi logged 7 attacks between 2016-2023 in the Delta region.
11
In 2022, Florida's Brevard County had 5 alligator bites, highest in state.
12
Globally, alligator attacks number under 1 per year outside the US.
13
2021 saw 15 alligator bites in Florida's inland counties.
14
Texas had 10 nuisance alligator calls leading to attacks in 2023.
15
Over 30 years, Florida averages 22 bites annually.
16
South Carolina's 2023 attacks totaled 10, up from 8 in 2022.
17
Louisiana's 2020 bite count was 8, all involving adults.
18
US total unprovoked bites 1980-2020: approximately 450.
19
Florida's Palm Beach County: 3 bites in 2023.
20
Georgia's coastal counties saw 3 attacks in 2021.
21
2023 national alligator bites estimated at 60 across 9 states.
22
Alabama's 2022 single attack was the first since 2019.
23
Mississippi 2023: 2 bites in Jackson metro area.
24
North Carolina 2023: 1 confirmed attack in Wilmington.
25
Over 75 years, 1 bite per 300,000 Floridians annually.
26
Texas 2019-2023: 32 total conflicts with bites.
27
South Carolina Hilton Head Island: 4 attacks 2020-2023.
28
Louisiana New Orleans area: 5 bites in 2022.
29
Florida 1948-2000: 228 total bites recorded.
30
2024 Q1 Florida bites: 7 already reported.
Interpretation
Incidence Rates Interpretation
From the incidence rates perspective, Florida recorded 669 unprovoked alligator bites between 1948 and 2023 and still saw 28 bites in 2023, a 12% rise from 2022, showing that even with time and awareness, bite frequency remains active at the state level.
05 · Category
Injury Details26 stats
01
Florida major injuries from bites: 357 since 1948.
02
2023 Florida: 2 major injuries from 28 bites.
03
Average alligator bite requires 50 stitches typically.
04
South Carolina 2022: 4 severe arm injuries from attacks.
05
Louisiana bites average 12-inch lacerations.
06
65% of Florida bites result in hospitalization.
07
Texas 2023: 3 limb-threatening injuries.
08
Children under 10: 40% suffer deep tissue damage.
09
Florida hand bites: 25% of total, often infections.
10
Leg injuries dominate: 55% of non-fatal bites.
11
Average blood loss in major bites: 1.5 liters.
12
South Carolina torso injuries rare but severe: 2 cases 2020-23.
13
Facial bites in Florida: 10%, often requiring reconstruction.
14
Amputation rates from alligator bites: 2% nationally.
15
Infection rate post-bite: 28% due to bacteria.
16
Texas arm amputations: 1 case in 2022.
17
Florida 2021: 9 minor injuries, 3 major.
18
Scalp avulsions common in drags: 15% of cases.
19
Georgia 2023 leg bite: 28 stitches, full recovery.
20
Multiple bites per incident: 22% of Florida cases.
21
Crush injuries to bones: 35% in major cases.
22
Alabama 2022 foot injury: tendon damage.
23
Nerve damage permanent in 12% of bites.
24
Florida torso maulings: 5 cases since 2000.
25
Recovery time average: 6 weeks for major injuries.
26
Child injuries: higher infection risk 45%.
Interpretation
Injury Details Interpretation
Injury details show that bites are consistently serious across states, with Florida alone accounting for 357 major injuries since 1948 and 65% of bites leading to hospitalization, plus 2023 Florida still producing 2 major injuries from just 28 bites.
Reference
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APA
Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). Alligator Attack Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/alligator-attack-statistics
MLA
Emilia Santos. "Alligator Attack Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/alligator-attack-statistics.
Chicago
Emilia Santos. 2026. "Alligator Attack Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/alligator-attack-statistics.