Deaths by drowning in the EU down by 4% in 2022

With summer in full swing, beaches and pools are bustling with activity; however, they also carry a heightened risk of drowning incidents.

In 2022, there were 4,810 deaths by drowning and submersion in the EU, 194 fewer than in 2021 (5,004), indicating a 3.9% decrease. The share of drownings and submersion fatalities out of all accidental deaths also decreased slightly from 3.1% in 2021 to 2.8% in 2022, making this the lowest share since the data collection started in 2011, when drownings and submersion fatalities represented 4.2% of all accidental deaths.  

Among EU countries, in 2022, the highest number of drowning and submersion deaths was reported in France (784), which accounts for 16.3% of all drowning fatalities in the EU, followed by Germany (542), Poland (535), Romania (472) and Spain (449). The lowest numbers in the EU were recorded in Luxembourg (1), Malta (3), Cyprus (13) and Slovenia (25).

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Source dataset: hlth_cd_aro

As in previous years, drowning deaths were more common among men than women. In 2022, this was the case in all EU countries. However, in Slovenia (14 men, 11 women), the difference was less substantial than in other EU countries. In Luxembourg, the only victim was male. 

For more information

• Statistics Explained article on cause of death statistics
• Thematic section on health
• Database on health

Methodological note

The number of deaths refers to all deaths of residents in or outside their home country.

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