The key statistics below summarise the latest drowning trends & risk

357 people drowned in Australia in 2024-25, the highest annual toll in more than two decades.

The crude drowning rate fell from 1.63 per 100,000 in 2002-03 to 1.31 in 2024-25, but after a low of 0.94 in 2017-18, the rate has since risen by about 39%.

One in four water deaths (24.5%) occurs while swimming and recreating in 2024-25, and swimming has been the leading activity associated with drowning for over 20 years.

In 2024-25, swimming and recreating (87 deaths) and unknown causes (87 deaths) were jointly the top activities associated with drowning; falls (34), boating (31), and nonaquatic transport (25) followed.

Baby Boomers (55-74) accounted for 106 drowning deaths in 2024-25, more than any other generation and a major driver of the recent 20 year high.

From 2002-03 to 2024-25, children aged 0-9 (Gen Alpha) experienced a 3.5% annual decrease in drowning risk (CAGR). In contrast, Australians aged 75 and older saw a 4.3% annual increase, while those aged 55-74 experienced a 1.9% annual increase in drowning risk. Gen Z (ages 10-24) showed minimal improvement, with drowning rates rising by 0.8% annually since 2002-03.

Overseas-born Australians have often faced a higher drowning risk than everyone else (see details).

Swimming participation drops sharply after adolescence: 22.9% of children (0-14) swim, but participation falls to just 15.2% among adults (15+).

Paid swimming participation collapses from childhood to adulthood: 75.9% of young swimmers (ages 0-8) take paid lessons, compared to only 46% of adults (15+).

Only 14.2% of children (0-14) and 9.7% of adults (15+) from households with a family income of up to $40K  per year take part in swimming.

In 2024-25, Northern Territory had only 1% of drowning deaths. But, its average drowning rate over the last three years is the highest in Australia (1.45).

New South Wales (129) and Queensland (90) account for over 61% of drowning deaths in Australia in 2024-25.

In the last 3 years, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) had the lowest mean drowning rate in Australia (0.21 per 100,000). Victoria’s rate (0.81 per 100,000) was also low compared to other states and territories.

Data Source - Towards a Drowning-Free Nation, Australia 2025, Prepared by Aquatots; Royal Life Saving National Fatal Drowning Database; NATIONAL DROWNING REPORT, Royal Life Saving Australia, several years; AusPlay 2024; Australian Bureau of Statistics