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Shark Attacks in France

The Global Shark Attack File records 14 shark attacks in France between 1554 and 2026. Of those, 4 were fatal (28.6%). The species most often involved is the white shark.

Last recorded shark attack in FranceFebruary 22, 2026 · Nouvelle-CalédonieView details →

Total recorded

14

Fatal

4

Fatality rate

28.6%

Global avg 21.2%

Years covered

1554–2026

Recorded incidents by year

Peak 2 (1700)Avg 1.1
1554: 11700: 21767: 11864: 11874: 11884: 11892: 11894: 11972: 11986: 12013: 12014: 12026: 1Average: 1.1 per year
155418922026
13 years of data, 1554–2026
Shark attacks in France per year, 1554–2026
YearAttacks
15541
17002
17671
18641
18741
18841
18921
18941
19721
19861
20131
20141
20261

Species most often involved in France

SpeciesRecorded incidents
White 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
  • Fishing2
  • Longline fishing for sharks1
  • Scuba diving1
  • Swimming1

Recent recorded incidents in France

Frequently Asked Questions

How many shark attacks have been recorded in France?
The Global Shark Attack File records 14 shark attacks in France, of which 4 were fatal.
What is the shark attack fatality rate in France?
28.6% of recorded shark attacks in France are fatal, compared with a global average of 21.2%.
Which shark species are most often involved in attacks in France?
Based on incident records, the species most frequently identified in France attacks are White Shark.
What activities are most associated with shark attacks in France?
Bathing accounts for the largest share of recorded incidents in France, 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.