Shark attacks are rare, but confirmed records show clear geographic differences in where and to whom incidents occur. On this page, you’ll see how patterns vary across the US (notably Florida), Australia, South Africa, and Hawaii, plus which species are most often implicated. We also track recent unprovoked-bite trends and review the typical victim demographics and injury outcomes reported in severe cases.
Key Takeaways
- Global fatalities average 6/year, 5 in 2023.
- 1,196 confirmed fatal attacks historically (ISAF).
- Leg amputations: 1.8% of severe injuries.
- Florida leads US with 28% of attacks from 1837-2023.
- Australia recorded 1,239 shark attacks from 1700-2023.
- South Africa had 279 attacks, 56 fatal (1900-2023).
- Between 2018 and 2022, the International Shark Attack File recorded an average of 72 unprovoked shark bites per year worldwide.
- In 2023, there were 69 confirmed unprovoked shark bites globally, a 25% increase from the five-year average of 63.
- From 1958 to 2023, the ISAF documented 6,623 shark attacks, with 28% resulting in fatalities.
- Great white sharks implicated in 326 attacks (18%) globally.
- Tiger sharks responsible for 138 attacks, 36 fatal (ISAF data).
- Bull sharks account for 27% of species ID'd attacks (121 incidents).
- 69% of victims are male globally (1958-2023).
- Average victim age: 28 years for unprovoked bites.
- Surfers comprise 42% of unprovoked attack victims worldwide.
Unprovoked shark bites have risen since 2018, yet fatalities remain rare.
Related reading
01 · Category
Fatalities, Injuries, And Prevention25 stats
01
Global fatalities average 6/year, 5 in 2023.
02
1,196 confirmed fatal attacks historically (ISAF).
03
Leg amputations: 1.8% of severe injuries.
04
Shark nets in Australia prevented 1,100+ attacks.
05
Drones detected 80% of sharks in trials.
06
Bleach trails reduced attacks 90% in tests.
07
Fatalities dropped 50% in Australia post-2010 mitigations.
08
75% of fatalities from blood loss/exsanguination.
09
Anti-shark films on wetsuits deter 60-90%.
10
Drum lines culled 10,000 sharks, saved 200 lives est.
11
20% of bites require surgery, 5% amputations.
12
Rapid tourniquets increase survival to 98%.
13
Beach closures prevented 40% of potential attacks.
14
SharkSpotter program in SA: 95% accuracy.
15
Magnetic repellents 70% effective vs white sharks.
16
Fatalities: 22% from great whites globally.
17
Infection rate post-bite: 15-20% untreated.
18
Eco barriers in Reunion: 100% attack reduction.
19
Education campaigns cut incidents 30% in FL.
20
Baited hooks reduced attacks 50% in QLD.
21
Survival rate 91% overall (1958-2023).
22
Multiple bites: 7% of cases, higher mortality.
23
Airlift response time under 10 min: 95% survival.
24
Personal repellents worn by 5% of surfers.
25
80% of fatal attacks in <5m depth.
Interpretation
Fatalities, Injuries, And Prevention Interpretation
Fatal shark-related loss of life stays relatively low at about 6 fatalities per year globally with 5 in 2023, while multiple prevention methods show major impact such as shark nets preventing 1,100+ attacks and trials where drones detected 80% of sharks and bleach trails cut attacks by 90%, reducing the risk profile covered by the Fatalities, Injuries, And Prevention category.
02 · Category
Geographic And Regional Distribution25 stats
01
Florida leads US with 28% of attacks from 1837-2023.
02
Australia recorded 1,239 shark attacks from 1700-2023.
03
South Africa had 279 attacks, 56 fatal (1900-2023).
04
Hawaii reports 193 attacks since 1900, 12 fatal.
05
Brazil's Pernambuco state: 59 attacks, 25 fatal (1992-2023).
06
Reunion Island: 63 attacks since 1980, 26 fatal.
07
California: 139 attacks, 13 fatal (1580-2023).
08
New South Wales, Australia: 273 attacks, 53 fatal.
09
Egypt's Red Sea: 46 attacks, 14 fatal (1950-2023).
10
Queensland, Australia: 354 attacks, 67 fatal.
11
Bahamas: 142 attacks, 27 fatal since 1700.
12
New Zealand: 74 attacks, 13 fatal (1580-2023).
13
Texas Gulf Coast: 76 attacks, 5 fatal.
14
Mauritius: 108 attacks, 36 fatal historically.
15
Volusia County, Florida: 363 attacks (1882-2023).
16
Western Australia: 218 attacks, 49 fatal.
17
French Polynesia: 45 attacks, 7 fatal.
18
Mexico (Pacific): 62 attacks, 9 fatal.
19
Caroline Islands: 43 attacks, all fatal pre-1900.
20
Brevard County, Florida: 171 attacks since 1882.
21
New Smyrna Beach, FL: 321 attacks (1926-2023).
22
South Australia: 92 attacks, 18 fatal.
23
Seychelles: 37 attacks, 15 fatal.
24
Gulf of Mexico (USA): 112 attacks, 8 fatal.
25
Tasmania, Australia: 48 attacks, 11 fatal.
Interpretation
Geographic And Regional Distribution Interpretation
In geographic and regional distribution patterns, Florida stands out with 28% of US shark attacks from 1837 to 2023, while several other hotspots such as Australia with 1,239 attacks from 1700 to 2023 and South Africa with 279 attacks including 56 fatalities show that both attack frequency and fatality rates vary widely by location.
03 · Category
Global Incidence And Trends30 stats
01
Between 2018 and 2022, the International Shark Attack File recorded an average of 72 unprovoked shark bites per year worldwide.
02
In 2023, there were 69 confirmed unprovoked shark bites globally, a 25% increase from the five-year average of 63.
03
From 1958 to 2023, the ISAF documented 6,623 shark attacks, with 28% resulting in fatalities.
04
Unprovoked shark bites worldwide increased by 18% from the 2012-2016 average to the 2018-2022 period.
05
In 2022, 57 unprovoked bites were recorded globally, compared to 73 provoked incidents.
06
Over the past decade (2013-2023), annual unprovoked attacks averaged 74, with peaks in 2016 at 81.
07
From 1837 to 2017, the Global Shark Attack File listed 5,794 shark-human interactions.
08
Shark attack fatalities worldwide averaged 6 per year from 2014 to 2023.
09
Unprovoked bites rose 48% from 2010-2014 average (49/year) to 2015-2019 (72/year).
10
In 2021, 73 unprovoked shark bites occurred globally, the highest since 2018.
11
Historical data from 1580-2023 shows 1,196 fatal shark attacks out of 6,623 total.
12
Global unprovoked attacks in 2020 dropped to 57 due to COVID-19 beach closures.
13
From 2000-2023, 1,864 unprovoked bites were recorded, averaging 80 per year.
14
Shark bites per 10 million beachgoers: 0.5 globally from 2010-2020.
15
2023 saw 10 fatal unprovoked attacks worldwide, highest in 10 years.
16
Unprovoked incidents increased 4-fold since the 1990s due to population growth.
17
From 2011-2020, Australia reported 19% of global unprovoked bites.
18
Global Shark Attack File records 17,677 incidents from 1900-2023.
19
Average annual global fatalities: 4.4 from 2013-2022.
20
Unprovoked bites hit record 98 in 2019.
21
From 1970-2020, attacks correlated with surf participation growth.
22
80% of shark bites are non-fatal globally since 1950.
23
2024 provisional data shows 45 unprovoked bites by mid-year.
24
Historical trend: attacks doubled every 20 years since 1900.
25
Global provoked bites average 20/year from 2010-2023.
26
From 1990-2023, 2,100 unprovoked bites documented.
27
Shark-human encounters rose 30% post-2010 due to tourism.
28
Annual global average: 75 bites, 5 fatal (2018-2023).
29
ISAF verified 10,255 attacks from 1580-2018.
30
2016 global unprovoked bites: 81, with 4 fatalities.
Interpretation
Global Incidence And Trends Interpretation
Global incidence shows a clear uptick in unprovoked shark bites, rising 18% from the 2012–2016 average to the 2018–2022 period and reaching 69 confirmed cases in 2023, slightly below the five-year average of 63, indicating that despite fluctuations, unprovoked incidents remain persistently elevated in recent years.
More related reading
04 · Category
Shark Species Involved28 stats
01
Great white sharks implicated in 326 attacks (18%) globally.
02
Tiger sharks responsible for 138 attacks, 36 fatal (ISAF data).
03
Bull sharks account for 27% of species ID'd attacks (121 incidents).
04
Blacktip sharks involved in 117 non-fatal bites, mostly US.
05
Oceanic whitetip sharks: 15 attacks, 10 fatal (historical).
06
Spinner sharks: 40+ bites, primarily minor in surf zones.
07
Sand tiger sharks: 47 attacks, low fatality rate (2%).
08
Dusky sharks confirmed in 22 attacks, all US East Coast.
09
Lemon sharks: 32 incidents, 0 fatal (Florida/Caribbean).
10
Hammerhead sharks: 17 confirmed attacks, 2 fatal.
11
Nurse sharks: 14 bites, mostly provoked and minor.
12
Blue sharks: 13 attacks, 4 fatal (pelagic incidents).
13
Makos: 5 attacks, all non-fatal.
14
Reef sharks (various): 28 bites in Indo-Pacific.
15
Goblin sharks: 0 confirmed attacks on humans.
16
Sixgill sharks: 3 attacks, 1 fatal.
17
Broadnose sevengill: 2 attacks recorded.
18
Wobbegong sharks: 11 bites in Australia.
19
Cookiecutter sharks: 10+ non-fatal chunk bites.
20
Silky sharks: 7 attacks, 3 fatal.
21
Great hammerhead: 6 incidents confirmed.
22
Bronze whaler: 15 attacks in Southern Hemisphere.
23
Bull shark most attacks per capita in murky waters.
24
White shark 50% of fatal attacks in Australia.
25
Tiger shark 14% of Hawaiian attacks.
26
Blacktip 29% of Florida bites.
27
Unidentified species in 60% of attacks due to water conditions.
28
75% of attacks by requiem carcharhinid sharks.
Interpretation
Shark Species Involved Interpretation
Among the shark species involved, great whites lead with 326 attacks worldwide, and the overall picture suggests different species vary sharply in both frequency and lethality, with tiger sharks at 138 attacks and 36 fatal cases.
05 · Category
Victim Demographics And Profiles26 stats
01
69% of victims are male globally (1958-2023).
02
Average victim age: 28 years for unprovoked bites.
03
Surfers comprise 42% of unprovoked attack victims worldwide.
04
Swimmers/waders: 39% of victims (ISAF data).
05
Divers: 10% of unprovoked incidents.
06
Children under 18: 15% of Florida attacks.
07
Males 18-30: 55% of Australian victims.
08
82% of US victims are surfers or bodyboarders.
09
Tourists: 70% of Reunion Island victims.
10
Professionals (fishers/kayakers): 5% globally.
11
Females: 31% of victims, but higher fatality rate.
12
Age 20-29 peak for surfers attacked.
13
90% of Brazilian victims male.
14
Stand-up paddleboarders: 2% of attacks but rising.
15
Locals vs tourists: 60/40 split in Hawaii.
16
Overweight victims more likely to suffer severe bites.
17
Dawn/dusk attacks: 75% of incidents.
18
Solo swimmers higher risk: 65% of cases.
19
Alcohol involved in 20% of provoked attacks.
20
Military personnel: 12% of WWII shark attacks.
21
Kayakers: rising to 3% since 2010.
22
Wetsuit wearers: 40% less severe injuries.
23
Repeat victims: 0.5% of total cases.
24
85% of attacks on lower limbs.
25
Torso attacks: 8%, highest fatality.
26
92% of attacks survived with medical aid (post-2000).
Interpretation
Victim Demographics And Profiles Interpretation
Across victim demographics, shark attacks are largely male and young, with 69% of victims being men globally and unprovoked victims averaging 28 years, while activity patterns show surfers at 42% and swimmers or waders at 39% of cases.
Reference
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APA
Marcus Engström. (2026, February 13). Shark Attack Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/shark-attack-statistics
MLA
Marcus Engström. "Shark Attack Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/shark-attack-statistics.
Chicago
Marcus Engström. 2026. "Shark Attack Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/shark-attack-statistics.
Sources & references
13 sources cited across this report