Probability of Dying from a Shark Attack

Shark attacks capture enormous public attention, but they are extraordinarily rare. The lifetime odds of dying from a shark attack in the US are approximately 1 in 3.7 million. Worldwide, there are only about 70-80 unprovoked shark attacks per year, with an average of only 5-6 fatalities.

Florida leads the US (and the world) in unprovoked shark attacks, followed by Hawaii, California, and the Carolinas. The species most often involved in fatal attacks are great white sharks, tiger sharks, and bull sharks. Most attacks are cases of mistaken identity; sharks don't typically hunt humans.

To reduce the already tiny risk: avoid swimming at dawn, dusk, or night (when sharks are most active); don't swim near fishing activity or seal colonies; avoid wearing shiny jewelry in the water; don't enter the water if you're bleeding; swim in groups; stay close to shore; and avoid murky water. For perspective, you're far more likely to be killed by a dog, a bee sting, or a lightning strike than by a shark.