Home / Shark Attacks / 2021 Shark Attacks in 2021 In 2021, the Global Shark Attack File logged 111 shark attacks worldwide — 306.8% above the historical annual average. 13 were fatal (11.7%). United States accounted for the most incidents that year, with 55.
Fatality rate
11.7%
Global avg 21.2%
vs. annual avg
307% above
Hist. avg 27.3/yr
Countries with the most incidents in 2021 Species most often involved in 2021 Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.
Notable incidents in 2021 Pororari River, New Zealand Non-fatal
2021-12-24 · Swimming
Morro Strand San Luis Obispo, United States Fatal
2021-12-23 · Boogie Boarding · Great White Shark
Anna Maria Island, Manatee County, United States Non-fatal
2021-12-21 · Wing Foil Surfing · Blacktip or spinner shark
Ocean Grove Beach, Australia Non-fatal
2021-12-05 · Swimming
Mahahual, Mexico Non-fatal
2021-12-05 · Diving
Ocean Grove Beach, Australia Non-fatal
2021-12-05 · Swimmingq
Banyans, Kailua-Kona, United States Non-fatal
2021-12-03 · Surfing · Blacktip reef shark
Boqueirão Beach, Brazil Non-fatal
2021-11-14 · Playing · dogfish
Lahaina, Maui, United States Non-fatal
2021-11-06 · Spearfishing
Port Beach, North Freemantle, Australia Fatal
2021-11-05 · Swimming
Frequently Asked Questions How many shark attacks were there in 2021? ▾ The Global Shark Attack File records 111 shark attacks worldwide in 2021, with 13 fatalities.
What was the shark attack fatality rate in 2021? ▾ 11.7% of shark attacks recorded in 2021 were fatal.
Which countries had the most shark attacks in 2021? ▾ The countries with the most recorded incidents in 2021 were United States (55), Australia (26), Brazil (5).
Which shark species were most often involved in 2021 attacks? ▾ Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 2021 were White Shark, Bull Shark, Blacktip Shark.
Shark Data Lab