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World Shark Attack Map & Database

Interactive map of 7,173 recorded shark attacks (1900–2026) from the Global Shark Attack File. Filter by species, country, year, and outcome — or browse the global statistics and country pages below.

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Key findings from the data

Recorded incidents

7,173

Fatal

1,521

Fatality rate

21.2%

Countries

121

Most-affected countries

Most-identified species

  • White Shark727
  • Tiger Shark353
  • Bull Shark273
  • Nurse Shark110
  • Blacktip Shark97
View global statistics →2026 year-in-review →

What this map shows

Every red and grey marker on the map is one recorded shark-human encounter. Filter by country, species, year, or outcome to see how patterns shift across geography, time, and shark species. Click any marker for the underlying incident report.

Where the data comes from

All 7,173 incidents in this database are sourced from the Global Shark Attack File (GSAF), an open, non-profit registry of shark-human encounters compiled from press reports, eyewitness accounts, and medical records. We clean, geocode, and aggregate the GSAF dataset; we do not re-classify incidents.

Coverage

  • Records: 7,173
  • Countries: 121
  • Earliest year: 1900
  • Latest year: 2026
  • Last updated: 2026-06-19

A note on the data

GSAF records reflect reported encounters. Earlier years and remote regions are systematically under-counted. Species identifications in incident reports are made by witnesses or first responders and are often uncertain. Treat the numbers as a guide to the recorded record, not as an exhaustive count of every encounter.

Explore the data

Global statistics

Country and year breakdowns, species rankings, and the full directory.

Shark attacks in United States

2,615 recorded incidents.

Shark attacks in Australia

1,567 recorded incidents.

Shark attacks in South Africa

600 recorded incidents.

2026 year-in-review

Country, species, and notable incidents from the most recent year on file.

Shark species index

Profiles of every shark species relevant to recorded incidents.

Browse all incidents

Searchable, filterable list of every record in the database.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many shark attacks happen each year?
The Global Shark Attack File records 7,173 shark attacks across the full 1900–2026 window. The most recent year on file (2026) reflects ongoing data collection and may revise upward.
What percentage of shark attacks are fatal?
21.2% of recorded shark attacks are fatal. Most encounters are exploratory bites; survival depends heavily on bite location, blood loss control, and emergency response time.
Which country has the most shark attacks?
United States has the most recorded incidents at 2,615, followed by Australia (1,567) and South Africa (600).
Which shark species attack humans most often?
Across all recorded incidents the species most frequently identified are White Shark, Tiger Shark, Bull Shark, Nurse Shark, Blacktip Shark. Species identification by witnesses is unreliable, so these are best treated as the species most often reported, not necessarily the species responsible.
Are shark attacks becoming more common?
Reported incidents have risen over the last several decades, but most researchers attribute this to better reporting, growing coastal populations, and more time spent in the water — not to a change in shark behavior. The fatality rate has fallen substantially over the same period.
What's the difference between a provoked and unprovoked attack?
An unprovoked attack is one initiated by a shark on a live human in the shark's natural habitat without human provocation. A provoked attack involves a person initiating contact (e.g., spearfishing, removing a hook, attempting to touch the shark). GSAF records both and distinguishes them in the type field.
Where does this data come from?
All figures are sourced from the Global Shark Attack File, a non-profit shark-human encounter registry. Shark Data Lab cleans, geocodes, and aggregates the GSAF dataset for analysis.
Can I filter the data by species or country?
Yes — use the filter controls on the interactive map above. For pre-built breakdowns, see the global statistics page or any of the country and year landing pages.