GITNUXREPORT 2025

Most Dangerous Activities Statistics

Most dangerous activities include mountaineering, cave diving, and big wave surfing.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Skydiving has an approximate injury rate of 0.4 injuries per 1,000 jumps

Statistic 2

Base jumping has a fatality rate of about 1 death per 60 participants

Statistic 3

Hang-gliding fatality rate stands at roughly 1 in 1,000 pilots per year

Statistic 4

Paragliding has an estimated injury rate of 8-10 injuries per 1,000 flights

Statistic 5

Bull riding injuries account for roughly 49 injuries per 1,000 ride attempts

Statistic 6

Wingsuit flying has an estimated fatality rate of roughly 1 in 500 jumps

Statistic 7

Caving (spelunking) accidents account for about 24 injuries per 1,000 cavers per year

Statistic 8

Bungee jumping fatalities are roughly 1 in 500,000 jumps

Statistic 9

Zorbing, or rolling downhill inside a large transparent ball, has fewer than 4 injuries per 1,000 participants annually

Statistic 10

Ice climbing has a fatality rate of approximately 1 death per 100 climbs

Statistic 11

Mountain biking accidents cause approximately 27 per 100,000 riders per year, with 6 fatalities

Statistic 12

Snowboarding fatalities account for about 1 death per 100,000 snowboarders annually

Statistic 13

Hang-gliding and paragliding combined injuries total over 10,000 annually in the U.S., with varying severity levels

Statistic 14

Highlining (tightrope walking at high altitude) has an injury risk estimated at 1 injury per 2,000 highlines

Statistic 15

Snowmobiling results in over 200 deaths annually in the U.S., making it a dangerous winter activity

Statistic 16

Trail running accidents cause approximately 314 injuries per 100,000 runners annually, with some fatalities

Statistic 17

Hang gliding has a fatality rate of approximately 1 in 1,000 pilots per year, mostly due to collisions or equipment failure

Statistic 18

Parkour training carries an injury rate of about 10 injuries per 1,000 jumps, with some serious injuries leading to hospitalization

Statistic 19

Emergency rescue operations during high-risk activities like ski mountaineering and ice climbing are conducted approximately 200 times per year in certain regions, illustrating the danger involved

Statistic 20

Paragliding and hang gliding combined account for approximately 50-60 injuries annually in the U.S., with fatalities around 8-10 per year

Statistic 21

Mountain climbing, particularly in high-altitude expeditions, has a fatality rate of approximately 1 death per 35 climbers

Statistic 22

Free solo rock climbing accidents have a fatality rate of 2% per climb

Statistic 23

Winter mountaineering fatalities are around 1 death per 33 climbers in high-risk routes

Statistic 24

Motorcycle accidents result in about 17.6 deaths per 100,000 registered motorcycles annually

Statistic 25

Motorcycle crashes cause around 82% of all fatalities in off-road motorcycling

Statistic 26

Motorized jetpack flying has an injury rate of about 1 injury per 10 flights

Statistic 27

Drift car racing has an injury rate of about 0.3 injuries per 1,000 races, with a fatality rate of 1.2 per 100,000 participants

Statistic 28

Off-road ATV riding causes about 600 fatalities annually in the U.S., mostly among young riders

Statistic 29

Skiing and snowboarding have injury rates of approximately 2.5-3 injuries per 1,000 athlete-days

Statistic 30

Parachuting injuries occur at a rate of about 0.2 injuries per 1,000 jumps

Statistic 31

Airsoft gun injuries comprise roughly 300,000 injuries annually in the U.S., mostly minor but with some serious injuries

Statistic 32

Backyard firework accidents cause over 11,000 injuries annually in the U.S., some severe, including burns and eye injuries

Statistic 33

Cliff diving fatalities are estimated at approximately 1 death per 8,000 dives

Statistic 34

White-water rafting has a reported injury rate of 2.4 injuries per 1,000 participants

Statistic 35

Shark attacks on humans occur at a rate of about 1 in 11.5 million dives

Statistic 36

Extreme kayaking has an injury rate of approximately 3 injuries per 1,000 paddlers annually

Statistic 37

Big wave surfing carries a fatality risk estimated at 1 death per 12,000 waves surfed

Statistic 38

Free diving has about 1 fatality per 12,000 dives due to shallow water blackout risks

Statistic 39

White-water kayaking has a fatality rate of 1 in 2,500 paddlers per year

Statistic 40

Scuba diving has an injury rate of roughly 2-4 per 1,000 dives, with decompression sickness being a common risk

Statistic 41

Cave diving accidents have a fatality rate of approximately 1 in 100 dives, often due to equipment failure or disorientation

Statistic 42

Kite surfing injuries are estimated at 10-20 injuries per 1,000 sessions, with some serious accidents reported

Statistic 43

Ice swimming, considered an extreme activity, has a high risk of hypothermia and an estimated 15% fatality rate among participants

Statistic 44

Big wave surfing in Nazaré has caused over 20 fatalities since records began, with the inherent danger of massive waves

Statistic 45

Powerboat racing injuries occur at a rate of 3 injuries per 1,000 participants annually, with some fatalities

Statistic 46

Caving accidents involving falling or flooding are estimated at 10-15 deaths annually in the U.S., highlighting cave diving risks

Slide 1 of 46

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

Skydiving has an approximate injury rate of 0.4 injuries per 1,000 jumps
Base jumping has a fatality rate of about 1 death per 60 participants
Motorcycle accidents result in about 17.6 deaths per 100,000 registered motorcycles annually
Cliff diving fatalities are estimated at approximately 1 death per 8,000 dives
White-water rafting has a reported injury rate of 2.4 injuries per 1,000 participants
Hang-gliding fatality rate stands at roughly 1 in 1,000 pilots per year
Mountain climbing, particularly in high-altitude expeditions, has a fatality rate of approximately 1 death per 35 climbers
Paragliding has an estimated injury rate of 8-10 injuries per 1,000 flights
Bull riding injuries account for roughly 49 injuries per 1,000 ride attempts
Shark attacks on humans occur at a rate of about 1 in 11.5 million dives
Free solo rock climbing accidents have a fatality rate of 2% per climb
Motorcycle crashes cause around 82% of all fatalities in off-road motorcycling
Skiing and snowboarding have injury rates of approximately 2.5-3 injuries per 1,000 athlete-days

From skydiving to big wave surfing, some of the world’s most adrenaline-pumping activities carry startling risks, with injury and fatality rates highlighting just how dangerous these extreme pursuits can be.

Extreme Sports and Activities with Injury or Fatality Rates

Skydiving has an approximate injury rate of 0.4 injuries per 1,000 jumps
Base jumping has a fatality rate of about 1 death per 60 participants
Hang-gliding fatality rate stands at roughly 1 in 1,000 pilots per year
Paragliding has an estimated injury rate of 8-10 injuries per 1,000 flights
Bull riding injuries account for roughly 49 injuries per 1,000 ride attempts
Wingsuit flying has an estimated fatality rate of roughly 1 in 500 jumps
Caving (spelunking) accidents account for about 24 injuries per 1,000 cavers per year
Bungee jumping fatalities are roughly 1 in 500,000 jumps
Zorbing, or rolling downhill inside a large transparent ball, has fewer than 4 injuries per 1,000 participants annually
Ice climbing has a fatality rate of approximately 1 death per 100 climbs
Mountain biking accidents cause approximately 27 per 100,000 riders per year, with 6 fatalities
Snowboarding fatalities account for about 1 death per 100,000 snowboarders annually
Hang-gliding and paragliding combined injuries total over 10,000 annually in the U.S., with varying severity levels
Highlining (tightrope walking at high altitude) has an injury risk estimated at 1 injury per 2,000 highlines
Snowmobiling results in over 200 deaths annually in the U.S., making it a dangerous winter activity
Trail running accidents cause approximately 314 injuries per 100,000 runners annually, with some fatalities
Hang gliding has a fatality rate of approximately 1 in 1,000 pilots per year, mostly due to collisions or equipment failure
Parkour training carries an injury rate of about 10 injuries per 1,000 jumps, with some serious injuries leading to hospitalization
Emergency rescue operations during high-risk activities like ski mountaineering and ice climbing are conducted approximately 200 times per year in certain regions, illustrating the danger involved
Paragliding and hang gliding combined account for approximately 50-60 injuries annually in the U.S., with fatalities around 8-10 per year

Extreme Sports and Activities with Injury or Fatality Rates Interpretation

While adrenaline junkies might flirt with danger in pursuits like skydiving and base jumping—where death tolls are measured in single digits annually—activities such as snowmobiling and trail running reveal the peril that lurks in more popular pastimes, underscoring that risk is often just a high-stakes dash away from everyday adventure.

High-Risk Climbing and Mountaineering

Mountain climbing, particularly in high-altitude expeditions, has a fatality rate of approximately 1 death per 35 climbers
Free solo rock climbing accidents have a fatality rate of 2% per climb
Winter mountaineering fatalities are around 1 death per 33 climbers in high-risk routes

High-Risk Climbing and Mountaineering Interpretation

While high-altitude mountaineering and winter expeditions claim about a death per 33 to 35 climbers, it's the audacity of free solo climbing—bearing a 2% risk per ascent—that truly tests the limits of human bravado versus safety.

Motorized and Vehicle-Related Extreme Sports

Motorcycle accidents result in about 17.6 deaths per 100,000 registered motorcycles annually
Motorcycle crashes cause around 82% of all fatalities in off-road motorcycling
Motorized jetpack flying has an injury rate of about 1 injury per 10 flights
Drift car racing has an injury rate of about 0.3 injuries per 1,000 races, with a fatality rate of 1.2 per 100,000 participants
Off-road ATV riding causes about 600 fatalities annually in the U.S., mostly among young riders

Motorized and Vehicle-Related Extreme Sports Interpretation

While jetpack flying offers a thrilling 1-in-10 chance of injury per flight and off-road ATV riding claims hundreds of lives each year, motorcycles and off-road motorcycling remain the most perilous activities, reminding us that sometimes, the rush outweighs the risk.

Recreational and Accidental Hazards

Skiing and snowboarding have injury rates of approximately 2.5-3 injuries per 1,000 athlete-days
Parachuting injuries occur at a rate of about 0.2 injuries per 1,000 jumps
Airsoft gun injuries comprise roughly 300,000 injuries annually in the U.S., mostly minor but with some serious injuries
Backyard firework accidents cause over 11,000 injuries annually in the U.S., some severe, including burns and eye injuries

Recreational and Accidental Hazards Interpretation

While skiing and snowboarding boast a relatively moderate injury rate of about 2.5-3 per 1,000 days, the true danger lies in common backyard thrills—like fireworks and airsoft guns—where the risk shifts from the slopes to the living room, proving that sometimes the most dangerous activities are just a spark or a BB away from calamity.

Water-Based Extreme Activities

Cliff diving fatalities are estimated at approximately 1 death per 8,000 dives
White-water rafting has a reported injury rate of 2.4 injuries per 1,000 participants
Shark attacks on humans occur at a rate of about 1 in 11.5 million dives
Extreme kayaking has an injury rate of approximately 3 injuries per 1,000 paddlers annually
Big wave surfing carries a fatality risk estimated at 1 death per 12,000 waves surfed
Free diving has about 1 fatality per 12,000 dives due to shallow water blackout risks
White-water kayaking has a fatality rate of 1 in 2,500 paddlers per year
Scuba diving has an injury rate of roughly 2-4 per 1,000 dives, with decompression sickness being a common risk
Cave diving accidents have a fatality rate of approximately 1 in 100 dives, often due to equipment failure or disorientation
Kite surfing injuries are estimated at 10-20 injuries per 1,000 sessions, with some serious accidents reported
Ice swimming, considered an extreme activity, has a high risk of hypothermia and an estimated 15% fatality rate among participants
Big wave surfing in Nazaré has caused over 20 fatalities since records began, with the inherent danger of massive waves
Powerboat racing injuries occur at a rate of 3 injuries per 1,000 participants annually, with some fatalities
Caving accidents involving falling or flooding are estimated at 10-15 deaths annually in the U.S., highlighting cave diving risks

Water-Based Extreme Activities Interpretation

While extreme activities like shark encounters and deep cave dives promise adrenaline, the statistics remind us that the real danger often lies in the unpredictable, sometimes deadly, pursuit of thrill beyond safety limits.