Child Drowning Deaths Have Fallen by About Three-Quarters Since 1980
The global rate for children under five dropped from roughly 30 to 7.4 per 100,000.
One of the quietest public health wins of the past four decades: far fewer children are drowning.
The numbers, 1980 to 2023
- Children under 5: from about 30 to 7.4 deaths per 100,000
- Children aged 5 to 14: from about 21 to 4 deaths per 100,000
That is a decline of roughly 75% for the youngest children and more than 80% for older children, according to Our World in Data.
What's working
Public health groups such as the World Health Organization recommend a mix of proven measures: fencing around pools and open water, supervised daycare for young children, swimming and water-safety lessons, and safer boats and ferries.
More to do
Drowning is still a common cause of death among children worldwide, and most of those deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. The progress so far shows that simple, proven steps can save many more lives as they spread.