Global shark bites return to average in 2025, with smaller proportion in the United States
Global unprovoked shark bites returned to near-average levels in 2025, following a sharp reduction the year prior. There was a total of 65 unprovoked shark bites worldwide in 2025, slightly less than the most recent 10-year average of 72. Nine of last year’s bites resulted in fatalities, compared to the ten-year average of six.
“The International Shark Attack Files provide baseline data about shark attacks on people that are rigorously and scientifically investigated, evaluated and summarized on an annual basis. While a significant fraction of incidents likely go unreported, the temporal trends, and local and global patterns of incidents are used to evaluate the biology of the animals, their behavior and the risk they pose to humans,” said Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the Florida Museum of Natural History.
The museum’s International Shark Attack File was established in 1958 and includes records dating back to the 1500s. The annual reports are primarily focused on unprovoked bites, defined as incidents in which a person does not initiate contact with a shark, intentionally or otherwise. Activities that influence a shark’s behavior, such as spearfishing or releasing a shark from a hook or net, are not included in the report.
The number of unprovoked bites in the United States has decreased overall during the past five years, but it remains the region with the highest reported activity, accounting for 38% of incidents worldwide last year. This is also a marked decrease in the proportion of bites for the country. More than 50% of all bites took place in the United States each year since 2019.
Australia followed last year with 32% of the world’s unprovoked bites and 56% of shark-related fatalities.
