Shark Data Lab logoShark Data Lab

Shark Attacks in French Polynesia

The Global Shark Attack File records 40 shark attacks in French Polynesia between 1834 and 2025. Of those, 2 were fatal (5.0%). The species most often involved is the blacktip shark.

Last recorded shark attack in French PolynesiaNovember 9, 2025 · Hakahau BayView details →

Total recorded

40

Fatal

2

Fatality rate

5.0%

Global avg 21.2%

Years covered

1834–2025

Recorded incidents by year

Peak 4 (2015)Avg 1.5
1834: 11893: 11924: 11951: 11966: 11968: 11972: 12002: 12003: 12007: 12008: 12011: 12012: 12013: 22014: 22015: 42016: 32017: 12018: 12019: 22020: 32021: 22022: 22023: 12024: 12025: 2Average: 1.5 per year
183420132025
26 years of data, 1834–2025
Shark attacks in French Polynesia per year, 1834–2025
YearAttacks
18341
18931
19241
19511
19661
19681
19721
20021
20031
20071
20081
20111
20121
20132
20142
20154
20163
20171
20181
20192
20203
20212
20222
20231
20241
20252

Species most often involved in French Polynesia

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

  • Spearfishing8
  • Swimming7
  • Surfing3
  • Fishing3
  • Snorkeling2

Recent recorded incidents in French Polynesia

Frequently Asked Questions

How many shark attacks have been recorded in French Polynesia?
The Global Shark Attack File records 40 shark attacks in French Polynesia, of which 2 were fatal.
What is the shark attack fatality rate in French Polynesia?
5.0% of recorded shark attacks in French Polynesia are fatal, compared with a global average of 21.2%.
Which shark species are most often involved in attacks in French Polynesia?
Based on incident records, the species most frequently identified in French Polynesia attacks are Blacktip Shark, Grey Reef Shark, Lemon Shark.
What activities are most associated with shark attacks in French Polynesia?
Spearfishing accounts for the largest share of recorded incidents in French Polynesia, with 8 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.