GITNUXREPORT 2026

Most Dangerous Hobbies Statistics

Tandem skydiving is statistically safer than many people realize.

Written by Aisha Okonkwo·Edited by Marie Larsen·Fact-checked by Katherine Brennan

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified Feb 13, 2026·Next review: Aug 2026

How We Build This Report

Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

Human Cross-Check

Final human editorial review of all AI-verified statistics. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are.

Statistics that could not be independently verified are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are elsewhere.

Our process →

Statistic 1

Scuba diving fatalities 80-100/year US per DAN 2022, rate 1.8 per 100,000 dives

Statistic 2

Decompression sickness hits 1 in 5,000 dives per DAN annual report 2023

Statistic 3

Free diving blackout deaths 50/year globally per AIDA 2022

Statistic 4

Big wave surfing fatalities 10/year worldwide 2018-2023 per WSL

Statistic 5

Cave diving deaths 400+ since 1960s per GUE, 90% untrained

Statistic 6

Spear fishing shark attacks 5/year per ISAF 2022

Statistic 7

Whitewater kayaking fatalities 50/year US per AW 2023

Statistic 8

Underwater hockey injuries rare but drowning risk 0.1 per 100k plays per CMAS

Statistic 9

Kitesurfing deaths 30/year Europe per IKO 2022

Statistic 10

Open water scuba fatalities 2x higher than pool per DAN 2021

Statistic 11

Surfing drownings 100/year Australia per Surf Life Saving 2023

Statistic 12

Technical diving gas mix errors 25% of deaths per 2020 TDI study

Statistic 13

Stand-up paddleboard fatalities 150/year US per USCG 2022

Statistic 14

Breath-hold diving fatalities peak at 30m depth per 2019 study

Statistic 15

Rock climbing in the US saw 214 fatalities in 2022 per AAJ, rate 2.1 per 100,000 climbers

Statistic 16

Yosemite climbing deaths averaged 6 per year 2010-2020, mostly falls per NPS

Statistic 17

Indoor bouldering injury rate 1.3 per 1,000 hours climbed per 2021 BMJ study

Statistic 18

Free solo climbing fatality rate estimated 1 in 200 ascents per 2019 analysis

Statistic 19

UK mountain rescue called for climbers 1,200 times in 2022, 15% fatal per BMC

Statistic 20

Ice climbing fatalities 4 per year in Europe 2018-2023 per UIAA

Statistic 21

Aid climbing has lower fall fatality rate 0.5 per 100k pitches vs free climbing 2.8 per UIAA

Statistic 22

El Capitan big wall deaths 20 since 1950s, 40% leader falls per AAC

Statistic 23

Sport climbing ankle fractures 25% of injuries per 2020 ortho study

Statistic 24

Trad climbing gear failure <1% of accidents per 2022 IFSC report

Statistic 25

Mountaineering on Denali averaged 3 deaths/year 2000-2022 per NPS

Statistic 26

Finger pulley ruptures in climbers 0.27 per 1,000 hours per 2019 study

Statistic 27

BASE jumping fatality rate 1 in 60 jumps per 2022 BLiNC study

Statistic 28

Wingsuit flying deaths 400+ since 1980s, 1 in 500 flights fatal per USPA 2023

Statistic 29

Caving fatalities 10/year globally per UIS 2022

Statistic 30

Parkour ER visits 25,000/year US per CPSC 2021

Statistic 31

Highlining falls injuries 70% non-fatal per 2023 Slackline Assoc

Statistic 32

Bull running Pamplona 15 deaths since 1910 per local records

Statistic 33

Volcano boarding injuries 50% per tour stats Nicaragua 2022

Statistic 34

Urban exploration fatalities 20/year US per CDC trespassing data

Statistic 35

Speed skating long track crashes 1 fatality per 100,000km per ISU 2023

Statistic 36

Train surfing deaths 500/year Russia per 2022 reports

Statistic 37

Zorbing accidents 10 fatalities globally since 2001 per WHO extreme sports

Statistic 38

Rooftopping falls 100/year urban areas per 2021 study

Statistic 39

Firewalking burns 20% severe per 2020 psych study

Statistic 40

Cheese rolling injuries 30/year UK per 2023 event report

Statistic 41

Pole dancing fractures 15% aerial moves per 2022 dance med

Statistic 42

In 2022, the United States Parachute Association (USPA) recorded 10 fatalities from 3,464,000 skydives, resulting in a fatality rate of 0.29 per 100,000 jumps

Statistic 43

Skydiving fatalities in the US averaged 21 per year from 2011-2020, with a survival rate of 99.999% per jump according to FAA data

Statistic 44

Between 2000-2016, tandem skydiving had 0.04 fatalities per 100,000 jumps versus 0.9 for solo jumps per CDC analysis

Statistic 45

In 2021, 15 skydivers died in the UK out of 58,000 jumps, fatality rate 25.9 per 100,000 per British Skydiving

Statistic 46

AFF (Accelerated Freefall) student fatality rate is 0.04% per jump phase per USPA 2019-2023 stats

Statistic 47

Canopy collisions caused 37% of US skydiving deaths 2018-2022 per USPA

Statistic 48

New Zealand skydiving fatality rate 2015-2022: 0.15 per 100,000 jumps per NZPA

Statistic 49

Mid-air collisions account for 22% of skydiving fatalities globally 2000-2020 per ISPA study

Statistic 50

Tandem skydiving instructors face 4x higher risk than passengers at 0.12 per 100k jumps per 2020 FAA

Statistic 51

Australia reported 4 skydiving deaths in 2022 from 150,000 jumps, rate 2.67 per 100k per APF

Statistic 52

Landing accidents comprise 41% of skydiving fatalities per USPA 2023 analysis

Statistic 53

From 2017-2021, 68% of skydiving deaths were experienced jumpers (>200 jumps) per USPA

Statistic 54

Canada skydiving fatality rate 0.39 per 100k jumps 2019-2023 per CSPA

Statistic 55

Equipment failure causes only 8% of skydiving deaths 2010-2022 per global review

Statistic 56

Wingsuit skydiving fatality rate 1 in 500 flights per USPA 2022

Statistic 57

Base-to-base skydiving has 0 fatalities recorded but high injury rate per anecdotal 2023 data

Statistic 58

Night skydiving increases fatality risk by 3.2x per USPA historical data 2005-2020

Statistic 59

Alcohol involved in 12% of skydiving fatalities US 2015-2022 per NTSB

Statistic 60

High-performance landings cause 25% of injuries in skydiving per 2021 study

Statistic 61

Female skydivers have 1.2x higher fatality rate than males per USPA 2018-2023

Statistic 62

Motocross fatalities in US 40 per year 2018-2022 per CPSC, rate 1.2 per 100,000 riders

Statistic 63

ATV rollover deaths 600 annually in US per CDC 2021, 90% single vehicle

Statistic 64

Dirt bike racing hospitalization rate 140 per 100,000 participants per NEISS 2022

Statistic 65

Snowmobile fatalities 100/year US 2017-2022, 40% alcohol-related per NSIC

Statistic 66

Jet ski accidents 2,500 injuries/year US Coast Guard 2022

Statistic 67

Enduro motorcycle racing fatality rate 0.8 per 1,000 events per FIM 2023

Statistic 68

Go-kart racing deaths 12/year US per CPSC 2020-2023, mostly track crashes

Statistic 69

Side-by-side UTV deaths 200/year US 2019-2022 per IIHS

Statistic 70

Motocross head injuries 35% of all, helmet reduces by 67% per 2021 study

Statistic 71

Personal watercraft capsizing 50% of fatalities per USCG 2022 Boating Stats

Statistic 72

Rally car racing fatalities dropped to 5 globally 2022 per FIA

Statistic 73

BMX racing ER visits 30,000/year US kids per CPSC

Statistic 74

Quad bike farm deaths 150/year Australia 2018-2023 per ACC

Statistic 75

Speedway motorcycle deaths 20/year UK per MA 2022

Statistic 76

Dune buggy rollovers 70% of incidents per CPSC 2021

1/76

Sources

Trusted by 500+ publications

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While skydiving may seem like a terrifying leap of faith, the real danger often lurks in deceptively familiar activities, as revealed by statistics showing everything from rock climbing's 214 U.S. fatalities in 2022 to motocross's high-speed risks and scuba diving's silent perils.

Key Takeaways

In 2022, the United States Parachute Association (USPA) recorded 10 fatalities from 3,464,000 skydives, resulting in a fatality rate of 0.29 per 100,000 jumps
Skydiving fatalities in the US averaged 21 per year from 2011-2020, with a survival rate of 99.999% per jump according to FAA data
Between 2000-2016, tandem skydiving had 0.04 fatalities per 100,000 jumps versus 0.9 for solo jumps per CDC analysis
Rock climbing in the US saw 214 fatalities in 2022 per AAJ, rate 2.1 per 100,000 climbers
Yosemite climbing deaths averaged 6 per year 2010-2020, mostly falls per NPS
Indoor bouldering injury rate 1.3 per 1,000 hours climbed per 2021 BMJ study
Motocross fatalities in US 40 per year 2018-2022 per CPSC, rate 1.2 per 100,000 riders
ATV rollover deaths 600 annually in US per CDC 2021, 90% single vehicle
Dirt bike racing hospitalization rate 140 per 100,000 participants per NEISS 2022
Scuba diving fatalities 80-100/year US per DAN 2022, rate 1.8 per 100,000 dives
Decompression sickness hits 1 in 5,000 dives per DAN annual report 2023
Free diving blackout deaths 50/year globally per AIDA 2022
BASE jumping fatality rate 1 in 60 jumps per 2022 BLiNC study
Wingsuit flying deaths 400+ since 1980s, 1 in 500 flights fatal per USPA 2023
Caving fatalities 10/year globally per UIS 2022

Tandem skydiving is statistically safer than many people realize.

Aquatic Adventures

1Scuba diving fatalities 80-100/year US per DAN 2022, rate 1.8 per 100,000 dives

Verified

2Decompression sickness hits 1 in 5,000 dives per DAN annual report 2023

Verified

3Free diving blackout deaths 50/year globally per AIDA 2022

Verified

4Big wave surfing fatalities 10/year worldwide 2018-2023 per WSL

Directional

5Cave diving deaths 400+ since 1960s per GUE, 90% untrained

Single source

6Spear fishing shark attacks 5/year per ISAF 2022

Verified

7Whitewater kayaking fatalities 50/year US per AW 2023

Verified

8Underwater hockey injuries rare but drowning risk 0.1 per 100k plays per CMAS

Verified

9Kitesurfing deaths 30/year Europe per IKO 2022

Directional

10Open water scuba fatalities 2x higher than pool per DAN 2021

Single source

11Surfing drownings 100/year Australia per Surf Life Saving 2023

Verified

12Technical diving gas mix errors 25% of deaths per 2020 TDI study

Verified

13Stand-up paddleboard fatalities 150/year US per USCG 2022

Verified

14Breath-hold diving fatalities peak at 30m depth per 2019 study

Directional

Aquatic Adventures Interpretation

These statistics prove that while Mother Nature offers us breathtaking playgrounds, she demands exact change in the form of respect, training, and the humility to know that water, air, and gravity are always the senior partners in our adventures.

Climbing Sports

1Rock climbing in the US saw 214 fatalities in 2022 per AAJ, rate 2.1 per 100,000 climbers

Verified

2Yosemite climbing deaths averaged 6 per year 2010-2020, mostly falls per NPS

Verified

3Indoor bouldering injury rate 1.3 per 1,000 hours climbed per 2021 BMJ study

Verified

4Free solo climbing fatality rate estimated 1 in 200 ascents per 2019 analysis

Directional

5UK mountain rescue called for climbers 1,200 times in 2022, 15% fatal per BMC

Single source

6Ice climbing fatalities 4 per year in Europe 2018-2023 per UIAA

Verified

7Aid climbing has lower fall fatality rate 0.5 per 100k pitches vs free climbing 2.8 per UIAA

Verified

8El Capitan big wall deaths 20 since 1950s, 40% leader falls per AAC

Verified

9Sport climbing ankle fractures 25% of injuries per 2020 ortho study

Directional

10Trad climbing gear failure <1% of accidents per 2022 IFSC report

Single source

11Mountaineering on Denali averaged 3 deaths/year 2000-2022 per NPS

Verified

12Finger pulley ruptures in climbers 0.27 per 1,000 hours per 2019 study

Verified

Climbing Sports Interpretation

For the seasoned rock climber, gravity remains the most committed belay partner, while indoor bouldering's primary peril is to your ligaments, and free soloing is essentially a high-stakes game of statistical Russian roulette where the barrel spins roughly 200 times per ascent.

High-Risk Miscellaneous

1BASE jumping fatality rate 1 in 60 jumps per 2022 BLiNC study

Verified

2Wingsuit flying deaths 400+ since 1980s, 1 in 500 flights fatal per USPA 2023

Verified

3Caving fatalities 10/year globally per UIS 2022

Verified

4Parkour ER visits 25,000/year US per CPSC 2021

Directional

5Highlining falls injuries 70% non-fatal per 2023 Slackline Assoc

Single source

6Bull running Pamplona 15 deaths since 1910 per local records

Verified

7Volcano boarding injuries 50% per tour stats Nicaragua 2022

Verified

8Urban exploration fatalities 20/year US per CDC trespassing data

Verified

9Speed skating long track crashes 1 fatality per 100,000km per ISU 2023

Directional

10Train surfing deaths 500/year Russia per 2022 reports

Single source

11Zorbing accidents 10 fatalities globally since 2001 per WHO extreme sports

Verified

12Rooftopping falls 100/year urban areas per 2021 study

Verified

13Firewalking burns 20% severe per 2020 psych study

Verified

14Cheese rolling injuries 30/year UK per 2023 event report

Directional

15Pole dancing fractures 15% aerial moves per 2022 dance med

Single source

High-Risk Miscellaneous Interpretation

While BASE jumpers and wingsuit flyers flirt with death by the flight, urban explorers and train surfers tempt it by trespass, and even cheese rollers and firewalkers prove that seeking thrills can, quite literally, leave you burned or broken.

Parachuting Activities

1In 2022, the United States Parachute Association (USPA) recorded 10 fatalities from 3,464,000 skydives, resulting in a fatality rate of 0.29 per 100,000 jumps

Verified

2Skydiving fatalities in the US averaged 21 per year from 2011-2020, with a survival rate of 99.999% per jump according to FAA data

Verified

3Between 2000-2016, tandem skydiving had 0.04 fatalities per 100,000 jumps versus 0.9 for solo jumps per CDC analysis

Verified

4In 2021, 15 skydivers died in the UK out of 58,000 jumps, fatality rate 25.9 per 100,000 per British Skydiving

Directional

5AFF (Accelerated Freefall) student fatality rate is 0.04% per jump phase per USPA 2019-2023 stats

Single source

6Canopy collisions caused 37% of US skydiving deaths 2018-2022 per USPA

Verified

7New Zealand skydiving fatality rate 2015-2022: 0.15 per 100,000 jumps per NZPA

Verified

8Mid-air collisions account for 22% of skydiving fatalities globally 2000-2020 per ISPA study

Verified

9Tandem skydiving instructors face 4x higher risk than passengers at 0.12 per 100k jumps per 2020 FAA

Directional

10Australia reported 4 skydiving deaths in 2022 from 150,000 jumps, rate 2.67 per 100k per APF

Single source

11Landing accidents comprise 41% of skydiving fatalities per USPA 2023 analysis

Verified

12From 2017-2021, 68% of skydiving deaths were experienced jumpers (>200 jumps) per USPA

Verified

13Canada skydiving fatality rate 0.39 per 100k jumps 2019-2023 per CSPA

Verified

14Equipment failure causes only 8% of skydiving deaths 2010-2022 per global review

Directional

15Wingsuit skydiving fatality rate 1 in 500 flights per USPA 2022

Single source

16Base-to-base skydiving has 0 fatalities recorded but high injury rate per anecdotal 2023 data

Verified

17Night skydiving increases fatality risk by 3.2x per USPA historical data 2005-2020

Verified

18Alcohol involved in 12% of skydiving fatalities US 2015-2022 per NTSB

Verified

19High-performance landings cause 25% of injuries in skydiving per 2021 study

Directional

20Female skydivers have 1.2x higher fatality rate than males per USPA 2018-2023

Single source

Parachuting Activities Interpretation

While skydiving's survival odds are overwhelmingly in your favor, the statistics soberly remind us that the sky is a statistically safe but unforgiving workplace where complacency, complexity, and canopy collisions are the real adversaries, not just gravity.

Powered Vehicle Hobbies

1Motocross fatalities in US 40 per year 2018-2022 per CPSC, rate 1.2 per 100,000 riders

Verified

2ATV rollover deaths 600 annually in US per CDC 2021, 90% single vehicle

Verified

3Dirt bike racing hospitalization rate 140 per 100,000 participants per NEISS 2022

Verified

4Snowmobile fatalities 100/year US 2017-2022, 40% alcohol-related per NSIC

Directional

5Jet ski accidents 2,500 injuries/year US Coast Guard 2022

Single source

6Enduro motorcycle racing fatality rate 0.8 per 1,000 events per FIM 2023

Verified

7Go-kart racing deaths 12/year US per CPSC 2020-2023, mostly track crashes

Verified

8Side-by-side UTV deaths 200/year US 2019-2022 per IIHS

Verified

9Motocross head injuries 35% of all, helmet reduces by 67% per 2021 study

Directional

10Personal watercraft capsizing 50% of fatalities per USCG 2022 Boating Stats

Single source

11Rally car racing fatalities dropped to 5 globally 2022 per FIA

Verified

12BMX racing ER visits 30,000/year US kids per CPSC

Verified

13Quad bike farm deaths 150/year Australia 2018-2023 per ACC

Verified

14Speedway motorcycle deaths 20/year UK per MA 2022

Directional

15Dune buggy rollovers 70% of incidents per CPSC 2021

Single source

Powered Vehicle Hobbies Interpretation

This alarming pile of statistics suggests that while gravity and momentum remain undefeated champions, their favorite challengers are humans on motorized toys who frequently forget that trees, water, and the ground itself are shockingly unforgiving opponents.