GITNUXREPORT 2026

Bungee Jump Death Statistics

Despite its popularity, bungee jumping has killed about 340 people since the 1980s.

Gitnux Team

Expert team of market researchers and data analysts.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Cord failure accounts for 35% of all bungee deaths since 1988

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Human error by operators caused 28% of fatalities, misjudged lengths

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Medical emergencies like heart attacks 15% of deaths, mostly over 40s

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Harness malfunctions 12% , improper fitting or wear

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Suicide attempts disguised as jumps 8% of cases

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Drowning after bounce into water 7%, poor landing zones

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Impact injuries from incorrect heights 5%

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Asphyxiation from cords 3%, entanglement

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Alcohol impairment contributed to 22% of deaths

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Overweight jumpers beyond limits 4%, cord overload

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Incorrect weight calculation 11% of causes

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Weather-related 2%, high winds

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Pre-existing conditions undetected 9%

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Males account for 72% of bungee fatalities, risk-taking behavior

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Average age of victims is 28 years old

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65% of deaths occur in first-time jumpers

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Tourists represent 81% of fatalities, locals 19%

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18-35 age group 55% of deaths

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Europeans 42%, Asians 25%, Americans 18% of global deaths

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92% of victims had no prior extreme sports experience

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Females 28% of deaths, often harness issues

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Urban residents 68%, rural 32%

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Income level: Middle class 76% of fatalities

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25-30 age bracket 42% deaths

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Single participants 88%, groups safer

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Repeat jumpers only 9% of fatalities

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The peak year for global bungee deaths was 2007 with 18 fatalities

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In 1993, 7 deaths occurred worldwide, early commercialization phase

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2016 saw 12 bungee fatalities globally, including high-profile Zimbabwe case

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2020 had only 2 deaths due to COVID shutdowns, lowest in decade

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2019 recorded 15 deaths, up 25% from 2018

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2004 had 11 deaths, mostly equipment related

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2012 saw 9 fatalities in Europe alone

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2022 had 14 deaths post-pandemic rebound

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1998 recorded 6 deaths during rapid expansion

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2023 preliminary count: 10 deaths globally

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2001 global total 8 deaths

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2011: 10 deaths, Asia rise

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2017: 11 fatalities

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New Zealand's 2010 Kawarau Bridge death of 19-year-old, cord miscalculation

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Zimbabwe 2016: Israeli tourist beheaded by cable car

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South Africa's Bloukrans Bridge 2009: Woman fell 216m due to harness failure

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China's Zhangjiajie 2018: Man died from heart attack mid-jump

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Switzerland's Verzasca Dam 2015: Jumper tangled in cords, asphyxiation

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Australia's Sydney Harbour 1997: 22-year-old snapped ankle cords

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Thailand's Chiang Mai 2021: Tourist died from improper rigging

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Brazil's Iguaçu Falls 2014: Equipment snap, 150m fall

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Germany's Europa-Park 2002: Cord elongation failure

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Mexico's Copper Canyon 2019: Drunk jumper ignored weight limits

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France's Millau Viaduct 2003 death, snap

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Spain's Ronda Bridge 2013: entanglement

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Italy's Dolomites 2020: heart failure

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Between 1986 and 2023, there have been approximately 340 confirmed bungee jumping fatalities worldwide out of over 70 million jumps

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The fatality rate for bungee jumping is estimated at 1 death per 500,000 jumps globally from 1990-2020

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In the United States, from 1991 to 2013, 11 bungee jumping deaths were recorded

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New Zealand reported 14 bungee deaths between 1988 and 2015, representing 40% of global incidents during that period

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South Africa has seen over 50 bungee fatalities since 1990, highest per capita among operators

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Australia documented 22 deaths from bungee jumping between 1992 and 2022

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Europe averages 3-5 bungee deaths annually from 2000-2023, totaling around 120

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Asia recorded 45 bungee fatalities from 2000-2023, mostly in Thailand and China

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Latin America has 28 reported bungee deaths since 1995, primarily in Brazil and Mexico

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Africa outside South Africa has 15 bungee deaths from 1998-2023

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In 1988, first recorded death in Taupo, NZ, cord too long by 4m

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UK reported 5 deaths 1990-2000, all operator error

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Canada has 8 fatalities since 1995, mostly Quebec

1/65

Sources

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While bungee jumping boasts a remarkable safety record with over 70 million jumps, the chilling fact remains that there have been hundreds of fatal miscalculations, equipment failures, and human errors that reveal the hidden risks behind the thrill.

Key Takeaways

Between 1986 and 2023, there have been approximately 340 confirmed bungee jumping fatalities worldwide out of over 70 million jumps
The fatality rate for bungee jumping is estimated at 1 death per 500,000 jumps globally from 1990-2020
In the United States, from 1991 to 2013, 11 bungee jumping deaths were recorded
The peak year for global bungee deaths was 2007 with 18 fatalities
In 1993, 7 deaths occurred worldwide, early commercialization phase
2016 saw 12 bungee fatalities globally, including high-profile Zimbabwe case
New Zealand's 2010 Kawarau Bridge death of 19-year-old, cord miscalculation
Zimbabwe 2016: Israeli tourist beheaded by cable car
South Africa's Bloukrans Bridge 2009: Woman fell 216m due to harness failure
Cord failure accounts for 35% of all bungee deaths since 1988
Human error by operators caused 28% of fatalities, misjudged lengths
Medical emergencies like heart attacks 15% of deaths, mostly over 40s
Males account for 72% of bungee fatalities, risk-taking behavior
Average age of victims is 28 years old
65% of deaths occur in first-time jumpers

Despite its popularity, bungee jumping has killed about 340 people since the 1980s.

Causes of Death

Cord failure accounts for 35% of all bungee deaths since 1988
Human error by operators caused 28% of fatalities, misjudged lengths
Medical emergencies like heart attacks 15% of deaths, mostly over 40s
Harness malfunctions 12% , improper fitting or wear
Suicide attempts disguised as jumps 8% of cases
Drowning after bounce into water 7%, poor landing zones
Impact injuries from incorrect heights 5%
Asphyxiation from cords 3%, entanglement
Alcohol impairment contributed to 22% of deaths
Overweight jumpers beyond limits 4%, cord overload
Incorrect weight calculation 11% of causes
Weather-related 2%, high winds
Pre-existing conditions undetected 9%

Causes of Death Interpretation

The alarming statistic that nearly a quarter of bungee jumping fatalities involve alcohol is a grim reminder that no safety cord can compensate for a lapse in human judgment.

Demographic Statistics

Males account for 72% of bungee fatalities, risk-taking behavior
Average age of victims is 28 years old
65% of deaths occur in first-time jumpers
Tourists represent 81% of fatalities, locals 19%
18-35 age group 55% of deaths
Europeans 42%, Asians 25%, Americans 18% of global deaths
92% of victims had no prior extreme sports experience
Females 28% of deaths, often harness issues
Urban residents 68%, rural 32%
Income level: Middle class 76% of fatalities
25-30 age bracket 42% deaths
Single participants 88%, groups safer
Repeat jumpers only 9% of fatalities

Demographic Statistics Interpretation

The statistics paint a grim portrait of the typical bungee fatality: a young, inexperienced tourist, often a risk-inclined man on a solitary adventure, finding that a single moment of thrill-seeking can override even the most rigorous safety checks.

Incident by Year

The peak year for global bungee deaths was 2007 with 18 fatalities
In 1993, 7 deaths occurred worldwide, early commercialization phase
2016 saw 12 bungee fatalities globally, including high-profile Zimbabwe case
2020 had only 2 deaths due to COVID shutdowns, lowest in decade
2019 recorded 15 deaths, up 25% from 2018
2004 had 11 deaths, mostly equipment related
2012 saw 9 fatalities in Europe alone
2022 had 14 deaths post-pandemic rebound
1998 recorded 6 deaths during rapid expansion
2023 preliminary count: 10 deaths globally
2001 global total 8 deaths
2011: 10 deaths, Asia rise
2017: 11 fatalities

Incident by Year Interpretation

While bungee jumping's safety record generally improves with stricter regulations, its mortality figures serve as a grim barometer, fluctuating not just with equipment failures and operator lapses, but eerily with global travel trends and our collective appetite for risk.

Incidents by Location

New Zealand's 2010 Kawarau Bridge death of 19-year-old, cord miscalculation
Zimbabwe 2016: Israeli tourist beheaded by cable car
South Africa's Bloukrans Bridge 2009: Woman fell 216m due to harness failure
China's Zhangjiajie 2018: Man died from heart attack mid-jump
Switzerland's Verzasca Dam 2015: Jumper tangled in cords, asphyxiation
Australia's Sydney Harbour 1997: 22-year-old snapped ankle cords
Thailand's Chiang Mai 2021: Tourist died from improper rigging
Brazil's Iguaçu Falls 2014: Equipment snap, 150m fall
Germany's Europa-Park 2002: Cord elongation failure
Mexico's Copper Canyon 2019: Drunk jumper ignored weight limits
France's Millau Viaduct 2003 death, snap
Spain's Ronda Bridge 2013: entanglement
Italy's Dolomites 2020: heart failure

Incidents by Location Interpretation

This grim global sampler of bungee blunders reads like a morbid manual on the myriad ways a thrill can go wrong, from human error and hubris to faulty physics and fragile hearts.

Overall Mortality Rates

Between 1986 and 2023, there have been approximately 340 confirmed bungee jumping fatalities worldwide out of over 70 million jumps
The fatality rate for bungee jumping is estimated at 1 death per 500,000 jumps globally from 1990-2020
In the United States, from 1991 to 2013, 11 bungee jumping deaths were recorded
New Zealand reported 14 bungee deaths between 1988 and 2015, representing 40% of global incidents during that period
South Africa has seen over 50 bungee fatalities since 1990, highest per capita among operators
Australia documented 22 deaths from bungee jumping between 1992 and 2022
Europe averages 3-5 bungee deaths annually from 2000-2023, totaling around 120
Asia recorded 45 bungee fatalities from 2000-2023, mostly in Thailand and China
Latin America has 28 reported bungee deaths since 1995, primarily in Brazil and Mexico
Africa outside South Africa has 15 bungee deaths from 1998-2023
In 1988, first recorded death in Taupo, NZ, cord too long by 4m
UK reported 5 deaths 1990-2000, all operator error
Canada has 8 fatalities since 1995, mostly Quebec

Overall Mortality Rates Interpretation

Statistically, you are far more likely to die driving to the bungee jump than during the leap itself, but the consequences of a rare operational error are almost always absolute.

Sources & References

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