Shark Data Lab logoShark Data Lab
ENFR

Shark Attacks in Nicaragua

The Global Shark Attack File records 7 shark attacks in Nicaragua between 1850 and 1960. Of those, 5 were fatal (71.4%). The species most often involved is the bull shark.

Last recorded shark attack in NicaraguaJanuary 1, 1960 · San Jan del SurView details →

Total recorded

7

Fatal

5

Fatality rate

71.4%

Global avg 21.2%

Years covered

1850–1960

Recorded incidents by year

Peak 1 (1850)Avg 1.0
1850: 11902: 11927: 11938: 11944: 11960: 1Average: 1.0 per year
185019381960
6 years of data, 1850–1960
Shark attacks in Nicaragua per year, 1850–1960
YearAttacks
18501
19021
19271
19381
19441
19601

Species most often involved in Nicaragua

SpeciesRecorded incidents
Bull Shark3

Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.

Activities most associated with incidents

  • Bathing2
  • Lashing logs together when he fell into the water1
  • The schooner Elizabeth, bound from Bluefields, Nicaragua to the river port of San Carlos foundered1
  • Feeling the shark’s teeth1
  • Swimming1

Recent recorded incidents in Nicaragua

Explore further

Frequently Asked Questions

How many shark attacks have been recorded in Nicaragua?
The Global Shark Attack File records 7 shark attacks in Nicaragua, of which 5 were fatal.
What is the shark attack fatality rate in Nicaragua?
71.4% of recorded shark attacks in Nicaragua are fatal, compared with a global average of 21.2%.
Which shark species are most often involved in attacks in Nicaragua?
Based on incident records, the species most frequently identified in Nicaragua attacks are Bull Shark.
What activities are most associated with shark attacks in Nicaragua?
Bathing accounts for the largest share of recorded incidents in Nicaragua, with 2 cases logged.
Where does this shark attack data come from?
All figures are derived from the Global Shark Attack File (GSAF), a non-profit database of shark-human incident records. Shark Data Lab cleans, geocodes, and aggregates the GSAF dataset for analysis.