GITNUXREPORT 2025

Most Dangerous Hobbies Statistics

Most dangerous hobbies include motorcycling, base jumping, and rock climbing.

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

BASE jumping has a fatality rate of roughly 1 death per 60 jumps, one of the highest risks among extreme sports

Statistic 2

Hang gliding has a fatality rate of about 1 death per 1,000 pilots annually, making it notably dangerous

Statistic 3

Motorcycle racing can have fatality rates as high as 1 in every 1,000 riders annually, according to safety reports

Statistic 4

Cliff diving accidents result in around 30 deaths annually worldwide, often due to misjudged water depth

Statistic 5

Rock climbing accidents result in approximately 25 fatalities annually in the U.S., especially due to falls

Statistic 6

Para-gliding has injury rates of roughly 7 injuries per 1,000 flights, with serious accidents occurring mainly due to pilot error

Statistic 7

BASE jumping participants face a fatality rate significantly higher than many other extreme sports, often cited as 1 per 60 jumps

Statistic 8

Motorcycle stunt riding accidents can lead to severe injuries or death, with an injury rate of over 50 injuries per 1,000 stunts performed

Statistic 9

BMX biking has an injury rate of approximately 20,000 emergency room visits annually in the U.S., often involving head and limb injuries

Statistic 10

Trapeze acts involve the risk of falls with injury rates estimated at around 1 serious injury per 2,000 performances

Statistic 11

Auto-racing, including Formula 1 and NASCAR, can have fatality rates of about 1 in 5,000 to 10,000 races, depending on the era and safety measures

Statistic 12

Ice climbing fatalities average about 1 per 1,000 climbers annually, mainly due to avalanches or falls

Statistic 13

Professional stunt performers face a high risk, with injury rates in the stunt industry estimated at around 1 per 30 performances

Statistic 14

Extreme skiing has a typical fatality rate of 1 in 600 skiers annually, often due to avalanches and falls

Statistic 15

Caving and spelunking accidents can cause serious injuries or death, with reports indicating about 1 death for every 2,000 participants

Statistic 16

Bungee jumping accidents, although rare, have resulted in fatalities, with estimates of about 1 death per 500,000 jumps

Statistic 17

Off-road motorcycle sports, such as dirt biking, carry risk of crashes, fractures, and fatalities, with accident rates of about 1 per 250 riders annually

Statistic 18

Motorcycle drag racing poses risk of high-impact crashes leading to severe injuries, with injury rates exceeding 1,000 per 10,000 participants

Statistic 19

Trapeze artists face a fall risk, with injury incidences estimated at about 1 per 2,000 performances, often with serious consequences

Statistic 20

Highlining (tightrope walking at high elevations) can result in severe injuries or fatalities, with some accidents involving falls from hundreds of feet

Statistic 21

Combat sports like boxing and MMA carry significant injury risks, with some fighters suffering concussions or more serious injuries

Statistic 22

Off-trail mountain biking carries a substantial risk of crashes and falls, resulting in hundreds of injuries annually

Statistic 23

Extreme parachuting activities, including wing-suit flying, have higher injury and fatality rates, with some reports citing 1 death per 50 jumps

Statistic 24

Fireworks hobby causes an average of 1,000 injuries annually in the U.S., with many involving extremities or eye injuries

Statistic 25

Mushing (dog sledding) accidents have resulted in fatalities, primarily due to extreme weather and handling errors

Statistic 26

Knife throwing, a hobby involving sharp objects, has a risk of injury with about 50 reported incidents per year of cuts and punctures

Statistic 27

Dangerous dog training or handling as a hobby can lead to bites and injuries, with hundreds of incidents recorded annually

Statistic 28

Chain sawing as a hobby or profession involves risk, with about 50 injuries annually due to cuts or amputations

Statistic 29

Welding hobbies pose risks including burns and electric shock, with an estimated 2,000 injuries annually in the U.S.

Statistic 30

Hunting causes an average of 1,300 deaths annually in the U.S., making it one of the most dangerous recreational activities

Statistic 31

Big game hunting includes risks such as accidental shootings, with around 100 related fatalities annually in the U.S.

Statistic 32

Bull riding causes about 1 death per 300 athletes annually in professional rodeo, making it one of the most dangerous sports of its kind

Statistic 33

Rodeo events, aside from bull riding, such as steer wrestling, also pose risks with injury rates around 1 in every 250 participants per event

Statistic 34

Motorcycling results in approximately 5,000 deaths per year in the United States, representing a significant risk among thrill sports

Statistic 35

Motorized jet ski accidents cause nearly 700 injuries and dozens of fatalities each year, according to marine safety reports

Statistic 36

Close to 20% of boating fatalities involve alcohol consumption, emphasizing the danger of recreational boating

Statistic 37

Off-road rally racing like Dakar has a fatality rate estimated at approximately 1 per 80 races, due to crashes and terrain hazards

Statistic 38

Car drifting as a hobby carries high chances of crashes and injuries, with an injury rate of about 1 per 500 events

Statistic 39

Fishing accounts for approximately 17% of all recorded fatalities among outdoor recreational activities in the United States

Statistic 40

Mountain climbing has a fatality rate of about 3 deaths per 100 climbers annually

Statistic 41

Scuba diving has a fatality rate of about 2 deaths per 100,000 dives, indicating its potential danger

Statistic 42

Skydiving fatalities occur at a rate of approximately 1 death per 150,000 jumps, which is relatively low but still poses serious risk

Statistic 43

White water rafting causes around 3 fatalities per million participants annually, but injuries are common

Statistic 44

Paragliding has a fatality rate of approximately 1 in every 11,000 flights, depending on pilot experience

Statistic 45

Snowboarding and skiing combined have a fatality rate of approximately 1 death per million exposures in the U.S., but injuries are common

Statistic 46

Skateboarding injuries result in over 130,000 emergency room visits annually in the U.S., with serious head injuries being common

Statistic 47

Parasailing accidents, though rare, can cause serious injury or death, with an estimated 1 fatality for every 1.4 million rides

Statistic 48

White-water kayaking has a fatality rate of approximately 1 in every 10,000 paddlers annually, depending on conditions

Statistic 49

Paintball injuries are common; roughly 45,000 injuries are reported annually, mostly to the face and eyes

Statistic 50

Hot air ballooning injuries are rare but can be severe, with some accidents causing multiple fatalities

Statistic 51

Hang gliding fatalities have declined over recent decades but remain significant, with about 1 fatality per 1,000 pilots annually

Statistic 52

Kite surfing can lead to accidents involving serious injuries or drowning, with about 1 hospital admission per 100 participants annually

Statistic 53

Paintball enthusiasts experience injuries such as bruises, eye injuries, and cuts, amounting to over 45,000 ER visits annually in the U.S.

Slide 1 of 53

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

Fishing accounts for approximately 17% of all recorded fatalities among outdoor recreational activities in the United States
Hunting causes an average of 1,300 deaths annually in the U.S., making it one of the most dangerous recreational activities
Mountain climbing has a fatality rate of about 3 deaths per 100 climbers annually
Motorcycling results in approximately 5,000 deaths per year in the United States, representing a significant risk among thrill sports
Scuba diving has a fatality rate of about 2 deaths per 100,000 dives, indicating its potential danger
BASE jumping has a fatality rate of roughly 1 death per 60 jumps, one of the highest risks among extreme sports
Skydiving fatalities occur at a rate of approximately 1 death per 150,000 jumps, which is relatively low but still poses serious risk
White water rafting causes around 3 fatalities per million participants annually, but injuries are common
Hang gliding has a fatality rate of about 1 death per 1,000 pilots annually, making it notably dangerous
Motorcycle racing can have fatality rates as high as 1 in every 1,000 riders annually, according to safety reports
Big game hunting includes risks such as accidental shootings, with around 100 related fatalities annually in the U.S.
Cliff diving accidents result in around 30 deaths annually worldwide, often due to misjudged water depth
Paragliding has a fatality rate of approximately 1 in every 11,000 flights, depending on pilot experience

Did you know that some of the world’s most adrenaline-pumping hobbies, from motocross and rock climbing to BASE jumping and big game hunting, pose staggering risks—including thousands of fatalities annually in the United States alone—making them some of the most dangerous pastimes imaginable?

Extreme Sports and High-Risk Activities

BASE jumping has a fatality rate of roughly 1 death per 60 jumps, one of the highest risks among extreme sports
Hang gliding has a fatality rate of about 1 death per 1,000 pilots annually, making it notably dangerous
Motorcycle racing can have fatality rates as high as 1 in every 1,000 riders annually, according to safety reports
Cliff diving accidents result in around 30 deaths annually worldwide, often due to misjudged water depth
Rock climbing accidents result in approximately 25 fatalities annually in the U.S., especially due to falls
Para-gliding has injury rates of roughly 7 injuries per 1,000 flights, with serious accidents occurring mainly due to pilot error
BASE jumping participants face a fatality rate significantly higher than many other extreme sports, often cited as 1 per 60 jumps
Motorcycle stunt riding accidents can lead to severe injuries or death, with an injury rate of over 50 injuries per 1,000 stunts performed
BMX biking has an injury rate of approximately 20,000 emergency room visits annually in the U.S., often involving head and limb injuries
Trapeze acts involve the risk of falls with injury rates estimated at around 1 serious injury per 2,000 performances
Auto-racing, including Formula 1 and NASCAR, can have fatality rates of about 1 in 5,000 to 10,000 races, depending on the era and safety measures
Ice climbing fatalities average about 1 per 1,000 climbers annually, mainly due to avalanches or falls
Professional stunt performers face a high risk, with injury rates in the stunt industry estimated at around 1 per 30 performances
Extreme skiing has a typical fatality rate of 1 in 600 skiers annually, often due to avalanches and falls
Caving and spelunking accidents can cause serious injuries or death, with reports indicating about 1 death for every 2,000 participants
Bungee jumping accidents, although rare, have resulted in fatalities, with estimates of about 1 death per 500,000 jumps
Off-road motorcycle sports, such as dirt biking, carry risk of crashes, fractures, and fatalities, with accident rates of about 1 per 250 riders annually
Motorcycle drag racing poses risk of high-impact crashes leading to severe injuries, with injury rates exceeding 1,000 per 10,000 participants
Trapeze artists face a fall risk, with injury incidences estimated at about 1 per 2,000 performances, often with serious consequences
Highlining (tightrope walking at high elevations) can result in severe injuries or fatalities, with some accidents involving falls from hundreds of feet
Combat sports like boxing and MMA carry significant injury risks, with some fighters suffering concussions or more serious injuries
Off-trail mountain biking carries a substantial risk of crashes and falls, resulting in hundreds of injuries annually
Extreme parachuting activities, including wing-suit flying, have higher injury and fatality rates, with some reports citing 1 death per 50 jumps

Extreme Sports and High-Risk Activities Interpretation

While adrenaline junkies might shrug at the danger, these statistics reveal that most of their hobbies come with a not-so-insignificant risk, suggesting that if reckless fun were an Olympic sport, many of these activities would be on the podium for peril.

Hobbies and Recreational Practices

Fireworks hobby causes an average of 1,000 injuries annually in the U.S., with many involving extremities or eye injuries
Mushing (dog sledding) accidents have resulted in fatalities, primarily due to extreme weather and handling errors
Knife throwing, a hobby involving sharp objects, has a risk of injury with about 50 reported incidents per year of cuts and punctures
Dangerous dog training or handling as a hobby can lead to bites and injuries, with hundreds of incidents recorded annually
Chain sawing as a hobby or profession involves risk, with about 50 injuries annually due to cuts or amputations
Welding hobbies pose risks including burns and electric shock, with an estimated 2,000 injuries annually in the U.S.

Hobbies and Recreational Practices Interpretation

While hobbies like fireworks, dog mushing, and welding ignite excitement, their alarming injury and fatality statistics remind us that passion without caution can be a perilous pursuit.

Hunting and Animal-Related Risks

Hunting causes an average of 1,300 deaths annually in the U.S., making it one of the most dangerous recreational activities
Big game hunting includes risks such as accidental shootings, with around 100 related fatalities annually in the U.S.
Bull riding causes about 1 death per 300 athletes annually in professional rodeo, making it one of the most dangerous sports of its kind
Rodeo events, aside from bull riding, such as steer wrestling, also pose risks with injury rates around 1 in every 250 participants per event

Hunting and Animal-Related Risks Interpretation

While hunting, bull riding, and rodeo may be thrilling pursuits, their alarming fatality rates remind us that the true danger lies in the unpredictable, often deadly, dance with adrenaline.

Motor Vehicle and Watercraft Incidents

Motorcycling results in approximately 5,000 deaths per year in the United States, representing a significant risk among thrill sports
Motorized jet ski accidents cause nearly 700 injuries and dozens of fatalities each year, according to marine safety reports
Close to 20% of boating fatalities involve alcohol consumption, emphasizing the danger of recreational boating
Off-road rally racing like Dakar has a fatality rate estimated at approximately 1 per 80 races, due to crashes and terrain hazards
Car drifting as a hobby carries high chances of crashes and injuries, with an injury rate of about 1 per 500 events

Motor Vehicle and Watercraft Incidents Interpretation

While the adrenaline rush of hobbies like motorcycling, jet skiing, boating, rally racing, and drifting can be intoxicating, these statistics serve as a stark reminder that thrill-seeking often comes with a deadly price tag, especially when safety takes a backseat.

Recreational Sports and Adventure Activities

Fishing accounts for approximately 17% of all recorded fatalities among outdoor recreational activities in the United States
Mountain climbing has a fatality rate of about 3 deaths per 100 climbers annually
Scuba diving has a fatality rate of about 2 deaths per 100,000 dives, indicating its potential danger
Skydiving fatalities occur at a rate of approximately 1 death per 150,000 jumps, which is relatively low but still poses serious risk
White water rafting causes around 3 fatalities per million participants annually, but injuries are common
Paragliding has a fatality rate of approximately 1 in every 11,000 flights, depending on pilot experience
Snowboarding and skiing combined have a fatality rate of approximately 1 death per million exposures in the U.S., but injuries are common
Skateboarding injuries result in over 130,000 emergency room visits annually in the U.S., with serious head injuries being common
Parasailing accidents, though rare, can cause serious injury or death, with an estimated 1 fatality for every 1.4 million rides
White-water kayaking has a fatality rate of approximately 1 in every 10,000 paddlers annually, depending on conditions
Paintball injuries are common; roughly 45,000 injuries are reported annually, mostly to the face and eyes
Hot air ballooning injuries are rare but can be severe, with some accidents causing multiple fatalities
Hang gliding fatalities have declined over recent decades but remain significant, with about 1 fatality per 1,000 pilots annually
Kite surfing can lead to accidents involving serious injuries or drowning, with about 1 hospital admission per 100 participants annually
Paintball enthusiasts experience injuries such as bruises, eye injuries, and cuts, amounting to over 45,000 ER visits annually in the U.S.

Recreational Sports and Adventure Activities Interpretation

While fishing, mountain climbing, and white-water rafting carry notable risks, it's comforting to know that in the realm of outdoor hobbies, ski injuries and skateboarding injuries collectively generate more emergency room visits than fatalities, reminding us that sometimes the greatest danger lies in the fun, not the final catch.