Home / Shark Attacks / 2020 Shark Attacks in 2020 In 2020, the Global Shark Attack File logged 101 shark attacks worldwide — 270.2% above the historical annual average. 14 were fatal (13.9%). United States accounted for the most incidents that year, with 49.
Fatality rate
13.9%
Global avg 21.2%
vs. annual avg
270% above
Hist. avg 27.3/yr
Countries with the most incidents in 2020 Species most often involved in 2020 Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.
Notable incidents in 2020 Coronado, San Diego County, United States Non-fatal
2020-12-29 · Swimming · White shark
Faadoo Island, Maldives Non-fatal
2020-12-22 · Fell off fishing boat
Orient Beach, St. Martin Fatal
2020-12-09 · Swimming · Tiger shark
Cable Beach, Australia Non-fatal
2020-12-08 · Surfing
Honolua Bay, United States Fatal
2020-12-07 · Surfing · Tiger shark. 14'3"
Seaside Cove, Clatsop County, United States Non-fatal
2020-12-05 · Surfing
D’Estrees Bay near Kangaroo Island, Australia Non-fatal
2020-12-05 · Surfing · White shark
Marsa Alam, Egypt Non-fatal
2020-12-01 · Scuba diving · Oceanic whitetip shark
Maui, United States Non-fatal
2020-11-25 · Snorkeling
St. Vincent Bay, New Caledonia Non-fatal
2020-11-22 · Snorkeling · Tiger shark, 4m
Frequently Asked Questions How many shark attacks were there in 2020? ▾ The Global Shark Attack File records 101 shark attacks worldwide in 2020, with 14 fatalities.
What was the shark attack fatality rate in 2020? ▾ 13.9% of shark attacks recorded in 2020 were fatal.
Which countries had the most shark attacks in 2020? ▾ The countries with the most recorded incidents in 2020 were United States (49), Australia (30), Bahamas (4).
Which shark species were most often involved in 2020 attacks? ▾ Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 2020 were White Shark, Bull Shark, Tiger Shark.
Shark Data Lab