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Shark Attacks in Vanuatu

The Global Shark Attack File records 15 shark attacks in Vanuatu between 1835 and 2025. Of those, 10 were fatal (66.7%).

Last recorded shark attack in VanuatuMay 25, 2025 · Espiitu Santo IslandView details →

Total recorded

15

Fatal

10

Fatality rate

66.7%

Global avg 21.2%

Years covered

1835–2025

Recorded incidents by year

Peak 1 (1835)Avg 1.0
1835: 11961: 11965: 11978: 11983: 11984: 11985: 11987: 11992: 11994: 12004: 12005: 12025: 1Average: 1.0 per year
183519852025
13 years of data, 1835–2025
Shark attacks in Vanuatu per year, 1835–2025
YearAttacks
18351
19611
19651
19781
19831
19841
19851
19871
19921
19941
20041
20051
20251

Activities most associated with incidents

  • Swimming6
  • Paddling outrigger canoe1
  • Attempting to drive shark from area1
  • Snorkeling1
  • Ran into the water1

Recent recorded incidents in Vanuatu

Frequently Asked Questions

How many shark attacks have been recorded in Vanuatu?
The Global Shark Attack File records 15 shark attacks in Vanuatu, of which 10 were fatal.
What is the shark attack fatality rate in Vanuatu?
66.7% of recorded shark attacks in Vanuatu are fatal, compared with a global average of 21.2%.
What activities are most associated with shark attacks in Vanuatu?
Swimming accounts for the largest share of recorded incidents in Vanuatu, with 6 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.