Global shark bites return to average in 2025, with a smaller proportion in the United States

The number of unprovoked shark bites worldwide decreased slightly last year, with fewer incidents in the U.S. compared to recent years.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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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 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.

Why it matters

Shark bites are a rare but concerning occurrence, and tracking global and regional trends can provide insights into the biology, behavior, and risk posed by these marine predators. While the overall number of bites remains relatively stable, the shifting distribution and frequency of incidents in different parts of the world is noteworthy.

The details

The International Shark Attack File, established in 1958, provides annual reports on unprovoked shark bites worldwide. In 2025, there were 65 unprovoked bites globally, with 25 occurring in the United States. This represents a decrease in the proportion of U.S. bites compared to recent years, when more than 50% of all incidents took place in the country. Australia followed with 32% of the world's unprovoked bites and 56% of shark-related fatalities. Several high-profile incidents, including bites on a 9-year-old girl in Florida and two swimmers in South Carolina, drew heightened attention to the issue.

  • In June 2025, a spate of shark bites occurred along the U.S. east coast.
  • In November 2025, a Swiss couple was attacked by a bull shark while swimming and filming dolphins in a remote area.

The players

Gavin Naylor

Director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the Florida Museum of Natural History.

Joe Miguez

International Shark Attack File manager.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Gavin Naylor, Director of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the Florida Museum of Natural History

“The majority of the bites in the database involve unidentified species. In the moment of the attack, witnesses are often unable to identify the shark, and several species of closely related sharks are hard to distinguish from one another without a thorough analysis.”

— Joe Miguez, International Shark Attack File manager

What’s next

Scientists will continue to monitor global and regional trends in shark bites, as well as study the factors that contribute to these incidents, in order to better understand and mitigate the risks posed to humans.

The takeaway

While shark bites remain relatively rare, the data collected by the International Shark Attack File provides valuable insights into the biology, behavior, and distribution of these marine predators, helping to inform public safety efforts and our understanding of the complex relationship between humans and sharks.