GITNUXREPORT 2026

Elevator Death Statistics

Elevator accidents are statistically rare but remain tragically possible globally.

Gitnux Team

Expert team of market researchers and data analysts.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Children under 5: 10% of elevator deaths.

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Adults 65+: 35% of fatalities.

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Males comprise 70% of elevator death victims.

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Maintenance workers: 50% of all deaths.

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Females: 30% of total fatalities.

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Ages 25-44: 25% of victims.

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Children 5-14: 5% of deaths.

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Elderly over 75: 20% fatalities.

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Passengers: 40% of deaths.

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Mechanics under 40: 15%.

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Hispanic workers: higher risk, 20% of mechanic deaths.

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Urban residents: 80% of incidents.

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Low-income areas: 2x death rate.

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Teens 15-19: 8% victims.

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Immigrants: higher mechanic death rate.

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Hotel workers: 10% mechanic deaths.

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Falling in elevator shaft causes 30% of deaths.

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Door-related incidents account for 20% of elevator fatalities.

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Maintenance worker crush injuries: 25% of total deaths.

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Escalator falls cause 40% of combined fatalities.

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Electrocution in elevators: 10% of mechanic deaths.

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Passenger falls between car and hoistway: 15%.

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Free-falling elevators cause less than 5% of deaths.

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Overloading incidents: 8% of fatalities.

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Misleveling accidents: 12% fatal cases.

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Entrapment leading to death: 7%.

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Crush by closing doors: 18% fatalities.

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Hoistway falls: 35% of all.

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Control system failures: 5%.

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Sheave issues: 3% deaths.

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Buffer failures rare, <1%.

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Power loss entrapment fatal in 2% cases.

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Vandalism-related: 4%.

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New York City: 5 deaths/year average.

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California: 4 elevator fatalities annually.

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Florida: 3 deaths per year.

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Texas: 3.5 average yearly.

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Illinois: 2 deaths/year.

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High-rise buildings in Manhattan: 60% of NYC deaths.

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Shanghai, China: 10 deaths/year.

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Mumbai, India: 8 fatalities annually.

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London, UK: 1-2 per year.

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Tokyo, Japan: 3 deaths/year.

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Sao Paulo, Brazil: 5/year.

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Mexico City: 4 annually.

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Toronto, Canada: 1/year.

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Sydney, Australia: 0.5 average.

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Chicago: 2.5/year.

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Los Angeles: 2/year.

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Miami: 1.5.

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Beijing: 12/year.

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Delhi: 10.

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Paris: 1/year.

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Seoul: 4.

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Rio: 3.

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In the United States, there are approximately 27 elevator and escalator-related deaths per year on average.

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Globally, elevator accidents result in fewer than 100 deaths annually.

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The lifetime odds of dying in an elevator are about 1 in 12 million.

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In 2022, the US recorded 18 elevator passenger deaths.

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Elevator death rate per billion rides is 0.15.

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Annual global elevator fatalities estimated at 50-70.

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US elevator mechanic deaths average 6 per year.

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In Europe, elevator deaths number around 20 yearly.

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Odds of elevator death lower than airplane crash by factor of 10.

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2021 US total elevator/escalator fatalities: 30.

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In China, 40 elevator deaths reported in 2020.

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Brazil sees 15 elevator deaths annually.

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India reports over 50 elevator fatalities per year.

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Australia: 2 elevator deaths per year average.

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Japan elevator death rate: 5 per year.

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Canada: 4 elevator-related deaths annually.

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UK: 3-5 elevator fatalities yearly.

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Russia: 10 elevator deaths per year.

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South Korea: 8 elevator accidents fatal yearly.

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Mexico: 12 elevator deaths annually.

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Global rides: 7 billion/year US, deaths minimal.

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1 death per 12 million trips in US.

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Escalators cause 70% of public transport deaths.

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Hospital elevators: 5% higher incident rate.

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Residential elevators: 10 deaths/year US.

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Commercial: 15 deaths/year.

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US elevator deaths peaked at 42 in 1993.

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From 2018-2022, average 25 deaths/year US.

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Global elevator safety improved 50% since 2000.

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US passenger deaths dropped 20% 2010-2020.

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Mechanic deaths steady at 6-8/year since 2010.

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Escalator deaths increased 10% post-2020.

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China elevator deaths rose 30% 2015-2020.

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Europe fatalities halved since 1990s.

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US total incidents down 15% 2000-2022.

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Free-fall incidents near zero since 1980s.

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India deaths doubled 2010-2022.

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Codes updates reduced risks by 40% since 2016.

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Elderly fatalities up 25% with urbanization.

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Post-COVID maintenance delays increased risks 10%.

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IoT sensors reduced faults by 50% 2015-2025.

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US elevator stock grew 20%, deaths stable.

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AI predictive maintenance: 25% fewer incidents.

Statistic 99

Elevator deaths in US fell 30% 1990-2020.

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Despite statistics suggesting that the odds of an elevator fatality are about as likely as being struck by lightning, digging deeper into the numbers reveals a far more complex and sobering story about who is really at risk and why.

Key Takeaways

In the United States, there are approximately 27 elevator and escalator-related deaths per year on average.
Globally, elevator accidents result in fewer than 100 deaths annually.
The lifetime odds of dying in an elevator are about 1 in 12 million.
Falling in elevator shaft causes 30% of deaths.
Door-related incidents account for 20% of elevator fatalities.
Maintenance worker crush injuries: 25% of total deaths.
Children under 5: 10% of elevator deaths.
Adults 65+: 35% of fatalities.
Males comprise 70% of elevator death victims.
New York City: 5 deaths/year average.
California: 4 elevator fatalities annually.
Florida: 3 deaths per year.
US elevator deaths peaked at 42 in 1993.
From 2018-2022, average 25 deaths/year US.
Global elevator safety improved 50% since 2000.

Elevator accidents are statistically rare but remain tragically possible globally.

Demographic Breakdown

Children under 5: 10% of elevator deaths.
Adults 65+: 35% of fatalities.
Males comprise 70% of elevator death victims.
Maintenance workers: 50% of all deaths.
Females: 30% of total fatalities.
Ages 25-44: 25% of victims.
Children 5-14: 5% of deaths.
Elderly over 75: 20% fatalities.
Passengers: 40% of deaths.
Mechanics under 40: 15%.
Hispanic workers: higher risk, 20% of mechanic deaths.
Urban residents: 80% of incidents.
Low-income areas: 2x death rate.
Teens 15-19: 8% victims.
Immigrants: higher mechanic death rate.
Hotel workers: 10% mechanic deaths.

Demographic Breakdown Interpretation

The grim truth of elevator fatalities reveals a predictable but deadly hierarchy: young children and the elderly are often passengers in peril, while the brunt of the danger falls squarely on the shoulders of the maintenance workers—often young, male, urban, and economically disadvantaged—who keep the rest of us riding safely.

Fatalities by Cause

Falling in elevator shaft causes 30% of deaths.
Door-related incidents account for 20% of elevator fatalities.
Maintenance worker crush injuries: 25% of total deaths.
Escalator falls cause 40% of combined fatalities.
Electrocution in elevators: 10% of mechanic deaths.
Passenger falls between car and hoistway: 15%.
Free-falling elevators cause less than 5% of deaths.
Overloading incidents: 8% of fatalities.
Misleveling accidents: 12% fatal cases.
Entrapment leading to death: 7%.
Crush by closing doors: 18% fatalities.
Hoistway falls: 35% of all.
Control system failures: 5%.
Sheave issues: 3% deaths.
Buffer failures rare, <1%.
Power loss entrapment fatal in 2% cases.
Vandalism-related: 4%.

Fatalities by Cause Interpretation

While the terrifying myth of a free-falling elevator is statistically negligible, the real and grim danger lies in the mundane gaps, misalignments, and routine mechanical failures that turn an ordinary shaft into a perfectly engineered deathtrap.

Geographic Distribution

New York City: 5 deaths/year average.
California: 4 elevator fatalities annually.
Florida: 3 deaths per year.
Texas: 3.5 average yearly.
Illinois: 2 deaths/year.
High-rise buildings in Manhattan: 60% of NYC deaths.
Shanghai, China: 10 deaths/year.
Mumbai, India: 8 fatalities annually.
London, UK: 1-2 per year.
Tokyo, Japan: 3 deaths/year.
Sao Paulo, Brazil: 5/year.
Mexico City: 4 annually.
Toronto, Canada: 1/year.
Sydney, Australia: 0.5 average.
Chicago: 2.5/year.
Los Angeles: 2/year.
Miami: 1.5.
Beijing: 12/year.
Delhi: 10.
Paris: 1/year.
Seoul: 4.
Rio: 3.

Geographic Distribution Interpretation

While the odds are overwhelmingly in your favor, the global elevator fatality tally suggests that if you're looking for the ultimate ride of your life, you might want to avoid high-rises in Beijing and stick to the stairs in Sydney.

Incidence Rates

In the United States, there are approximately 27 elevator and escalator-related deaths per year on average.
Globally, elevator accidents result in fewer than 100 deaths annually.
The lifetime odds of dying in an elevator are about 1 in 12 million.
In 2022, the US recorded 18 elevator passenger deaths.
Elevator death rate per billion rides is 0.15.
Annual global elevator fatalities estimated at 50-70.
US elevator mechanic deaths average 6 per year.
In Europe, elevator deaths number around 20 yearly.
Odds of elevator death lower than airplane crash by factor of 10.
2021 US total elevator/escalator fatalities: 30.
In China, 40 elevator deaths reported in 2020.
Brazil sees 15 elevator deaths annually.
India reports over 50 elevator fatalities per year.
Australia: 2 elevator deaths per year average.
Japan elevator death rate: 5 per year.
Canada: 4 elevator-related deaths annually.
UK: 3-5 elevator fatalities yearly.
Russia: 10 elevator deaths per year.
South Korea: 8 elevator accidents fatal yearly.
Mexico: 12 elevator deaths annually.
Global rides: 7 billion/year US, deaths minimal.
1 death per 12 million trips in US.
Escalators cause 70% of public transport deaths.
Hospital elevators: 5% higher incident rate.
Residential elevators: 10 deaths/year US.
Commercial: 15 deaths/year.

Incidence Rates Interpretation

Despite sounding like a global game of lethal hopscotch, these statistics clearly show that your daily elevator ride remains, statistically speaking, a far safer gamble than many of your more mundane daily activities.

Trends Over Time

US elevator deaths peaked at 42 in 1993.
From 2018-2022, average 25 deaths/year US.
Global elevator safety improved 50% since 2000.
US passenger deaths dropped 20% 2010-2020.
Mechanic deaths steady at 6-8/year since 2010.
Escalator deaths increased 10% post-2020.
China elevator deaths rose 30% 2015-2020.
Europe fatalities halved since 1990s.
US total incidents down 15% 2000-2022.
Free-fall incidents near zero since 1980s.
India deaths doubled 2010-2022.
Codes updates reduced risks by 40% since 2016.
Elderly fatalities up 25% with urbanization.
Post-COVID maintenance delays increased risks 10%.
IoT sensors reduced faults by 50% 2015-2025.
US elevator stock grew 20%, deaths stable.
AI predictive maintenance: 25% fewer incidents.
Elevator deaths in US fell 30% 1990-2020.

Trends Over Time Interpretation

While American elevators have become remarkably safe thanks to technology and updated codes, the global story remains uneven, proving that safety is a relentless maintenance of standards, not a one-time achievement.

Sources & References

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