Some statistics on shark attacks

* Shark data represents the number of attacks worldwide, not deaths. Only 4 out of those 62 attacks resulted in death.
NB: Some of these statistics are based on USA reports

Source: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/31/how-scared-should-we-be/

• In the last 20 years, there have been 24 recorded fatalities due to shark attack = averages 1.2 per year. In the last 50 years, there have been 53 recorded fatalities due to shark attack = averages 1.06 per year

• During the period 1969-2000, in NSW alone, 218 rock fishermen were swept off the rocks and drowned. In that same period 40 shark encounters were recorded with only 2 fatality reported. (Source: Taronga Zoo Australian Shark Attack File http://www.taronga.org.au/tcsa/conservations-programs/australian-shark-attack-file/general-information.aspx)

• On average there are 80 drowning deaths each year (Beachsafe Newsletter, Issue 16, 2009).

• Diving related deaths in Australia 1945-1987 = 292 (Diving Accident Management in Australia, 1988).

• "Eleven Australians were killed by lightning in the years 1983 to 1986", (John Sedgwick, Lightning Natures Terrible Swift Sword, Readers Digest, January 1990).

• On average there are 2-3 deaths per year from Bee stings in Australia (Dr Van Nunen Royal North Shore Hospital Allergy Unit. Feb 3rd 1989. Manly Daily). Three people died from bee stings in 1995 (Aust. Bureau of Statistics).

• On average, there is only one person per year killed by shark attack in Australia over the last 218 years.

Find more statistics about shark attacks at: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/statistics/statsw.htm