Home / Shark Attacks / 2015 Shark Attacks in 2015 In 2015, the Global Shark Attack File logged 143 shark attacks worldwide — 424.1% above the historical annual average. 9 were fatal (6.3%). United States accounted for the most incidents that year, with 73.
Fatality rate
6.3%
Global avg 21.2%
vs. annual avg
424% above
Hist. avg 27.3/yr
Countries with the most incidents in 2015 Species most often involved in 2015 Counts based on the species field in the Global Shark Attack File. Species identification in incident reports is not always reliable.
Notable incidents in 2015 Westbrook Beach, South Africa Non-fatal
2015-12-25 · Fishing · White shark, 3 m
Arinaga Beach, Aguimes, Gran Canaria, Spain Non-fatal
2015-12-24 · Swimming · Silky shark, 6.5'
La'aloa Beach Park, United States Non-fatal
2015-12-21 · Paddle boarding · 9' shark
Bondi Beach, Australia Non-fatal
2015-12-20 · Surfing · Bronze whaler shark, 6'
Fernano de Noronha, Brazil Non-fatal
2015-12-20 · Scuba diving · Tiger shark, 1.5 m
Boat capsized Fatal
2015-12-18 · Sea disaster
Lake Macquarie, Australia Non-fatal
2015-12-12 · Fishing · White shark, 3.5 m
Off Andros Island, Bahamas Non-fatal
2015-12-10 · Lobster fishing · Bull shark
Mpande, South Africa Non-fatal
2015-12-07 · Swimming / Wading
Punta Vicente Roca, Isabella Island, Ecuador Non-fatal
2015-11-19 · Snorkeling · Galapagos shark
Frequently Asked Questions How many shark attacks were there in 2015? ▾ The Global Shark Attack File records 143 shark attacks worldwide in 2015, with 9 fatalities.
What was the shark attack fatality rate in 2015? ▾ 6.3% of shark attacks recorded in 2015 were fatal.
Which countries had the most shark attacks in 2015? ▾ The countries with the most recorded incidents in 2015 were United States (73), Australia (31), South Africa (10).
Which shark species were most often involved in 2015 attacks? ▾ Based on incident records, the most frequently identified species in 2015 were White Shark, Bull Shark, Tiger Shark.
Shark Data Lab