- World Health Organization. Global status report on drowning prevention 2024. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2024. Report No.: WHO/HEP/ECH/2024.01. ISBN: 978-92-4-010396-2.
In 2021, there were 295,210 deaths from unintentional drowning worldwide. The figures, reported in the “WHO Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention 2024”, refer to the latest year available in global mortality estimates and offer an updated and disturbing insight into one of the most neglected preventable causes of death.
Almost 60% of victims are under 30 years of age and over 21% are children under 5 years of age. In many countries, drowning is still one of the leading causes of child mortality.
The risk is not evenly distributed. The Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions each record around 83.000 deaths per year, followed by Africa (77.000), the Eastern Mediterranean (36.000), the Americas (16.500) and finally Europe (9.155 deaths). However, when looking at mortality rates, Africa has the highest rate: 5.7 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 1.0 in Europe.
When comparing countries with different incomes, the disparities are even more striking: 92% of deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, where the probability of dying from drowning is more than three times higher than in rich countries. Factors such as the lack of physical barriers, poor child supervision, lack of infrastructure and difficulties in rescue operations all play a role.
Europe, with 9.155 deaths in 2021, accounts for only 3% of the global total. However, the risk has not disappeared. Internal differences are significant: rates vary by more than tenfold from one country to another, reflecting different exposure to risk (geographical environment, cultural habits, access to swimming education) and the quality of prevention policies.
Drowning is one of the leading causes of death among children and adolescents, yet it is often absent from public debate and health agendas. According to the WHO, children under the age of 5 account for 21% of all drowning deaths worldwide (over 62,000 deaths in 2021), followed by children between the ages of 5 and 14 (19%) and young people between the ages of 15 and 29 (14%). Overall, almost six out of ten victims are under the age of 30.
The vulnerability of young children is linked to several factors:
In school-age children and adolescents, the risk extends to unsupervised recreational activities, the use of unsafe boats, or risky behaviour related to alcohol consumption. Migrant or refugee adolescents, who are often forced to cross seas or rivers, are also particularly at risk.
The WHO report emphasises that these deaths are largely preventable but are often underestimated or not adequately recorded. Only 31% of participating countries collect data on the location of the event (river, swimming pool, sea, etc.), and less than 30% collect information on the activity being carried out at the time of drowning (play, transport, work, etc.). The lack of quality data makes it difficult to plan targeted interventions.
Many of these deaths often occur a few metres from home, in the backyard, in an irrigation canal, or in an unfenced private swimming pool. In these cases, a few centimetres of water and a few minutes of distraction are enough for a tragedy to occur. Unlike other causes of accidental death, drowning is quick, silent and often unassisted.
Even survivors are not exempt from consequences: it is estimated that for every death, there are at least 4-5 cases of non-fatal drowning, many of which result in permanent neurological damage. Children who survive post-drowning cerebral anoxia may suffer motor and cognitive sequelae.
For these reasons, the WHO calls for drowning to be considered not only as an accidental event, but as a central issue of paediatric public health, involving paediatricians, family doctors, educators and health policy makers. The inclusion of water safety education modules in school curricula, the promotion of safe home environments and the implementation of community-based surveillance and parenting support programmes are essential tools for reducing risk in these age groups.
No child should die due to lack of supervision, access to swimming education, or structural deficiencies. And no doctor should ignore the preventive potential of their role in this challenge.
The WHO report dedicates an entire section to community interventions and the role that healthcare professionals can play in prevention. The most effective measures, which are low-cost and replicable in different contexts, include:
These initiatives, if coordinated across sectors (health, education, civil protection, urban planning), can significantly reduce the incidence of drowning. However, according to data collected in the 52 European countries participating in the report, only 21% have included swimming lessons in the national school curriculum, and just 18% have active programmes for the supervision of preschool children.
Healthcare professionals, particularly paediatricians and family doctors, can contribute in various ways: from identifying household risks to participating in community training programmes, to direct involvement in school or community training and awareness programmes.