Water recreation is built around time outside, confidence in the water, and good company. These figures provide a clear, source-backed snapshot of the risks and skills that sit behind that experience in the United States.
Use this page as a starting point for reporting, school projects, pool and boating safety conversations, or background reading before a day near the water. Figures are not combined across sources because each organization tracks a different setting and time period.
National drowning data
4,345
average unintentional drowning deaths per year in the U.S.
This is the annual average reported for 2018 through 2021.
Source: CDC, Drowning Data, updated January 27, 2026 ↗1.31
deaths per 100,000 people
The CDC reports this annual age-adjusted U.S. drowning death rate for 2018 through 2021.
Source: CDC, Drowning Data, updated January 27, 2026 ↗4,500+
people drowned each year from 2020 through 2022
That was about 500 more drowning deaths each year than in 2019.
Source: CDC, Drowning Deaths Rise in the United States, May 14, 2024 ↗Swimming skills
54%
of Americans cannot swim or lack all basic water skills
The Red Cross defines water competency as five skills, including floating or treading water for one minute and swimming 25 yards to an exit.
Source: American Red Cross, Water Safety Month release, May 25, 2022 ↗Pool and spa safety
357
children under 15 fatally drowned in pool or spa incidents each year
This is the average for 2020 through 2022.
Source: U.S. CPSC Pool Safely, annual drowning report update, July 11, 2025 ↗68%
of reported child pool or spa drowning fatalities involved ages 1 to 3
This share covers reported fatalities from 2020 through 2022.
Source: U.S. CPSC Pool Safely, annual drowning report update, July 11, 2025 ↗85%
of reported incidents with a known location happened in residential settings
The CPSC notes this includes places such as backyard pools.
Source: U.S. CPSC Pool Safely, annual drowning report update, July 11, 2025 ↗6,300
children under 15 were treated in emergency departments each year for nonfatal drowning injuries
This is the average for 2022 through 2024.
Source: U.S. CPSC Pool Safely, annual drowning report update, July 11, 2025 ↗73%
of those nonfatal drowning injury visits involved children under 5
The share is reported with the 2022 through 2024 emergency department estimate.
Source: U.S. CPSC Pool Safely, annual drowning report update, July 11, 2025 ↗Recreational boating
556
recreational boating fatalities were reported in 2024
The Coast Guard reported a 1.4% decrease from 564 fatalities in 2023.
Source: U.S. Coast Guard, 2024 Recreational Boating Statistics release, July 1, 2025 ↗76%
of 2024 boating deaths were caused by drowning
The Coast Guard described drowning as accounting for three-quarters of boating deaths.
Source: U.S. Coast Guard, 2024 Recreational Boating Statistics release, July 1, 2025 ↗87%
of boating drowning victims were not wearing life jackets
This figure is from the Coast Guard’s 2024 recreational boating statistics.
Source: U.S. Coast Guard, 2024 Recreational Boating Statistics release, July 1, 2025 ↗70%
of boating fatalities occurred on vessels operated by people without boating safety instruction
The Coast Guard describes this as roughly 70% of fatalities in 2024.
Source: U.S. Coast Guard, 2024 Recreational Boating Statistics release, July 1, 2025 ↗How to use these statistics
Each figure is reported as published by its original source. Time periods vary, so the date range shown with each statistic matters. The page is reviewed regularly, with the source links checked and figures updated when the underlying agencies publish newer data.
Suggested citation: CecilAndEzra. “U.S. Swimming & Water Recreation Statistics (2026).” Accessed August 11, 2026. https://cecilandezra.com/swimming-water-recreation-statistics
Sources
- CDC, Drowning Data, updated January 27, 2026 ↗
- CDC, Drowning Deaths Rise in the United States, May 14, 2024 ↗
- American Red Cross, Water Safety Month release, May 25, 2022 ↗
- U.S. CPSC Pool Safely, annual drowning report update, July 11, 2025 ↗
- U.S. Coast Guard, 2024 Recreational Boating Statistics release, July 1, 2025 ↗
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