Global Shark Bites Normalize, US Share Declines In 2025

Shark attack incidents returned to near-average levels worldwide last year, with fewer bites reported in the United States.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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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, slightly less than the most recent 10-year average of 72. The United States accounted for 38% of incidents, a decrease from over 50% in recent years. Australia followed with 32% of the world's unprovoked bites and 56% of shark-related fatalities.

Why it matters

Shark attack data provides insights into the biology, behavior, and risk posed by these marine predators. While shark bites remain extremely rare, the trends and patterns observed can help inform public safety efforts and conservation measures for threatened shark populations.

The details

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. Florida had 11 bites in 2025, lower than its recent five-year average. Volusia County, often called the 'shark bite capital of the world', saw a decline to 6 bites, below its 10-year average. Several high-profile incidents occurred along the U.S. East Coast in June, including a 9-year-old girl in Florida who lost her hand and two swimmers bitten in South Carolina. Australia had 21 bites, notably higher than its recent five-year average, and recorded 5 fatalities.

  • In June 2025, a spate of shark bites occurred along the U.S. East Coast.
  • In early 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

Manager of the International Shark Attack File.

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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 (Mirage News)

“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, Manager of the International Shark Attack File (Mirage News)

What’s next

The International Shark Attack File will continue to monitor and report on global shark bite trends, providing insights to help improve public safety and shark conservation efforts.

The takeaway

While shark bites remain extremely rare, the data collected by the International Shark Attack File helps scientists and policymakers better understand the biology, behavior, and risk posed by these marine predators, informing efforts to protect both humans and shark populations.