The ISAF 2025 shark attack report

The Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File investigated 105 alleged shark-human interactions worldwide in 2025. ISAF confirmed 65 unprovoked shark bites on humans and 29 provoked bites.

“Unprovoked bites” are defined as incidents in which a bite on a live human occurs in the shark’s natural habitat with no human provocation of the shark

“Provoked bites” occur when a human initiates interaction with a shark in some way. These include instances when divers are bitten after harassing or trying to touch sharks, bites on spearfisherman, bites on people attempting to feed sharks, bites occurring while unhooking or removing a shark from a fishing net and so forth. .

Learn about other bite classification descriptions

Of the remaining 11 cases, four involved bites to motorized or non-motorized marine vessels (“boat bites”), and two involved shark-inflicted post-mortem bites (“scavenge”). Three cases were classified as “no assignment could be made.” One case was classified as unconfirmed. These include cases where injuries could not be unambiguously attributed to a shark bite. These collectively include bites from other predatory fishes such as blue fish, cuts from sharp items in the water and cases where the victim’s body is not recovered, as in some drowning cases.

ISAF will continue to investigate these cases as data become available.

2025 at a glance

Global total of unprovoked shark bites slightly higher than average

The 2025 worldwide total of 65 confirmed unprovoked cases is in line with the most recent five-year (2020-2024) average of 61 incidents annually. There were 12 confirmed shark-related fatalities this year, nine of which are assigned as unprovoked. This number is also in line with the most recent five-year annual global average of eight unprovoked fatalities per year. Three of the unprovoked fatalities were due to bites from white sharks on surfers in Australia.

Annual fluctuations in shark-human interactions are expected. While the number of fatalities in 2025 was considerably higher than in 2024, there have been years in the past in which fatalities were also higher. The 2025 uptick in fatalities due to white sharks may reflect stochastic year-to-year variation, but it might also be the consequence of the increasing number of white sharks seen at aggregation sites near beaches that are popular with surfers (particularly in Australia). Year-to-year variability in oceanographic conditions influences the local abundance of sharks in the water, while weather patterns and economic conditions impact human activities along coastlines.

U.S. leads world (again) in number of unprovoked bites

Consistent with long-term trends, the United States recorded the most unprovoked shark bites in 2025, with 25 confirmed cases. This is slightly lower than the 28 incidents recorded in 2024. The 25 cases represent 38% of the worldwide total.

Australia’s total of 21 unprovoked incidents is notably higher than the most recent five-year annual average of 13 incidents for the region. Seven of these occurred in western Australia, one of which was fatal (white shark), and three bites occurred in South Australia, one of which was fatal (white shark). Two bites were recorded for Queensland (1 fatal), eight bites for New South Wales (2 fatal) and one bite for Victoria over the year.

The Bahamas reported five unprovoked bites, none of which were fatal. New Zealand reported three unprovoked bites, none fatal. Vanuatu, Mozambique, and South Africa each reported one fatal unprovoked bite for 2025. Jamaica, Maldives, Canada, Samoa, Canary Islands (Spain), and New Caledonia each reported single non-fatal incidents for 2025.

Florida had most unprovoked bites in U.S.

Florida has long topped global charts for the number of shark bites, and 2025 was no different. Florida’s 11 cases represent 44% of the U.S. total and 17% of unprovoked bites worldwide. This is lower than Florida’s most recent five-year annual average of 19 incidents. Hawaii recorded four bites. This represents a slight decrease from the average, but shark bites in Hawaii vary considerably from year to year. Going forward, we will be closely monitoring the statistics for Hawaii.

There were five unprovoked bites in California, one of which was fatal, one in New York, one in North Carolina, two in South Carolina and one in Texas.

In Florida, Volusia County had the most shark bites (6), representing 54% of the state’s total. This is lower than the most recent five-year annual average of 10 incidents in the area. Of the five remaining bites, two were in Broward County, two in Lee County and one occurred in Miami-Dade County

Most bites are associated with swimming/wading

Surfers and those participating in board sports accounted for 32% of incidents. Swimmers and waders accounted for 46%. Snorkelers/free divers accounted for 15%.

Risk of being bitten by a shark remains extremely low

The total number of unprovoked shark bites worldwide remains extremely low. Fatalities saw an increase over the past year. Most of the fatalities in 2025 were due to white shark bites (three in Australia, one in California).

ISAF offers resources for reducing your risk of a shark bite and instructions for what to do if you encounter a shark.

Full Press Release: Global shark bites return to average in 2025, with smaller proportion in the United States by Brooke Bowser

Members of the press are also encouraged to check out our “Media Resources” page.

Gavin Naylor, Ph.D.
Program Director, International Shark Attack File
Florida Program for Shark Research
Florida Museum of Natural History – University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611 USA
(352) 273-1954
Email: gnaylor@flmnh.ufl.edu