Published 26 August 2025

Australia has recorded the highest number of drowning deaths since records began, prompting urgent warnings from Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia.

The National Drowning Report 2025, published by Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia, identified 357 drowning deaths in the past year, which was 27% higher than the 10-year average.

Drowning deaths of children under five fell to 15 fatalities, 21% below the 10-year average, and half in home swimming pools. Pool owners are urged to check that their pool fence and pool gate is in good working order.

The lowest drowning rates were of children aged 5-14 years. The drowning rate rose 4-fold for 15–24-year-olds, where 44 people drowned, 38% above the 10-year average. Poor swimming skills are a major factor.

One third (33%) of all drowning deaths were adults aged 65 and older (118). This may be attributable to the effects of other health conditions, use of medications and declining swimming skills, on safety around water.

Coastal locations (beaches, ocean, rocks) accounted for 154 deaths (43%), with beaches alone claiming 82 lives. Swimming, fishing and visiting unpatrolled locations remain high risk activities in coastal environments.

Inland waterways (rivers, lakes and dams) accounted for 122 deaths (34%), including 99 in rivers, where hidden currents, steep drop-offs, and flooding are common hazards.

Drowning rates doubled for those living in the most disadvantages areas and nearly tripled in regional and remote areas compared to major cities. More than a third of drowning deaths were people born overseas.

Drowning increased in South Australia (24, +71%), Queensland (90, 36%), Western Australia (49, +36%), New South Wales (129, +30%), and Victoria (52, +8 %), and decreased in Northern Territory and Tasmania.

The Report, released today at Parliament House, Canberra, provides sobering analysis that underscores the impact of drowning and prompts an urgent call for action ahead of the forecast warmer and wetter summer.

Royal Life Saving Australia, CEO, Dr Justin Scarr said “This is a wake-up call. Drowning deaths have surged to unprecedented levels. The decline in swimming skills, an ageing population, and more people heading to remote and unfamiliar locations away for lifesaving services are causing concern.”

“Half of all children leave primary school unable to swim 50 metres and float for 2 minutes, causing lifelong risk. To reverse this tragic drowning trend, every Australian, regardless of postcode or background, must have access to swimming lessons, a great local swimming pool or a safe place to swim.” Dr Scarr says.

Surf Life Saving Australia, CEO, Adam Weir said “Coastal drowning remains a major concern, with beaches, ocean and rocks accounting for 43% of the national drowning burden. Rip currents remain Australia’s number one coastal hazard, responsible for more than 1 in 3 beach drowning deaths - claiming more lives than sharks, floods, or cyclones combined.”

“Never have our surf lifesavers and lifeguards worked harder to keep people safe at beaches, with almost 2.2 million preventative actions and over 8,000 rescues. More is being asked of surf lifesavers and lifeguards, as beach usage continues to grow and people explore a wider range of coastal locations.” Mr Weir said.

Federal Minister for Communications, Minister for Sport, the Hon Anika Wells MP said, “The Albanese Government has provided more than $34 million over two years as part of a suite of sport safety measures to raise awareness for water safety and drowning prevention.”

“In partnership with organisations like Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia, we are committed to addressing water safety by encouraging all Australians to take simple precautions around pools and waterways.

“The messages are simple; supervise children, learn to swim, prioritise water safety and lifesaving skills, wear a lifejacket when boating, and always swim between the red and yellow flags,” Minister Wells said.

Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia explain the surge in drowning as being driven by:

• More people are going further into national parks and regional areas. Climate and lifestyle shifts are increasing time around water, especially in autumn and spring, as well as early and late in the day.
• Swimming skills are at crisis levels, with many children failing to meet national benchmarks; gaps are widening for regional, remote, and migrant communities, creating lifelong vulnerabilities to drowning.
• An ageing population is impacting on drowning. A lifelong love of water activity, combined with other health conditions, medications and reduced mobility, is increasing unexpected falls into water.
• Disadvantaged, multicultural, regional and remote populations are most likely to miss out on learning to swim, have poorer access to a safe place to swim and remain overrepresented in drowning.

In July, Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia convened a National Water Safety Summit in July to address the surge in drowning. As a result, the Australian Water Safety Strategy 2030 is being adjusted to promote the strengthening of swimming and water safety skills for all, emphasise local water safety efforts, and encourage greater alignment of water safety policy across all levels and sectors of government.

To keep your family safe this summer, both organisations advise people to:

• Always supervise children around water
• Learn swimming, water safety and lifesaving skills
• Wear a lifejacket when boating, rock fishing or paddling
• Swim at a patrolled beach between the red and yellow flags
• Avoid alcohol and drugs around water
• Check the conditions, including weather forecasts

Key findings from The National Drowning Report 2025:

• 357 drowning deaths over the past 12 months, a 27% increase on the 10-year average.
• The lowest rates of drowning were in children 5-14 years, but this rises sharply by ages 15-24 years.
• Drowning rates were above the 10-year average for every age group over 45 years.
• One third (33%) of all drowning deaths were adults aged 65 and older (118).
• The highest drowning rates were in people aged 75 years and older.
• 43% occurred in coastal locations (154), including 82 drowning deaths (23%) at beaches.
• 34% at inland waterway locations (122), including 99 drowning deaths (28%) at rivers.
• 10% occurred in swimming pools (35 deaths), 68% of those deaths were in backyard pools.
• Where country of birth was known, 33% were born overseas, consistent with the 10-year average.
• Inequities persist – drowning rates double for those from the most disadvantages areas and nearly triple for regional and remote residents compared to major cities.

TO VIEW THE FULL NATIONAL DROWNING REPORT CLICK HERE

Notes to the editor
National Drowning Report 2025 – www.royallifesaving.com.au
B-Roll and images – https://bit.ly/45whvi7

For more information please contact: Ross Woodward, Media Key, 0409 420 112 or 03 9769 6488.
*all rates are crude rates. National Drowning Report State and Territory Findings follow.

National Drowning Report State and Territory Findings

Australian Capital Territory

• There was 1 drowning death in the ACT.

New South Wales

• 129 drowning deaths occurred in New South Wales, a 29% increase on the 10-year average.
• The drowning rate of 1.52 per 100,000 population.
• The highest number of drowning deaths were in the 75+ years age group (16%).
• The leading locations for drowning were rivers / creeks (35%) and beaches (19%).
• The Far West and Mid North Coast Regions had the highest rates of drowning per 100,000 residents.

Northern Territory

• 4 drowning deaths occurred in the Northern Territory, a 43% decrease on the 10-year average.
• The drowning rate of 1.53 per 100,000 population.
• The highest number of drowning deaths in NT occurred among those aged 75+ years.
• Top End and Big Rivers regions had the highest rates of drowning per 100,000 residents.

Queensland

• 90 drowning deaths that occurred in Queensland, a 36% increase on the 10-year average.
• The drowning rate of 1.62 per 100,000 population.
• 33% were among people aged 65 years and over.
• The leading locations for drowning were rivers (33%), beaches (23%), and swimming pools (17%)
• The Torres and Cape and North West QLD regions reported the highest rates.

South Australia

• 24 drowning deaths that occurred in South Australia, a 71% increase on the 10-year average.
• The drowning rate of 1.27 per 100,000 population.
• 50% were people aged 65-74 years old, the highest rate of 5.98 deaths per 100,000 population
• The leading location for drowning was ocean/harbour (33%), and beaches (29%).

Tasmania

• 8 drowning deaths occurred in Tasmania, an 11% decrease on the 10-year average.
• The drowning rate of 1.39 per 100,000 population.
• 54% were people aged 55 years and over.
• The South East region had the highest rates of drowning per 100,000 residents and was 5th nationally.
• The leading location for drowning were rivers (38%), and beaches (25%).

Victoria

• 52 drowning deaths occurred in Victoria, an 8% increase on the 10-year average.
• The drowning rate of 0.75 per 100,000 population.
• 19% occurred in the 18-24-year age group, the highest rate of 1.62 deaths per 100,000 population.
• 48% occurred during the Summer months.
• The leading locations for drowning were beaches (21%), rivers (19%) and lakes (12%)

Western Australia

• 49 drowning deaths occurred in Western Australia, a 36% increase on the 10-year average.
• The drowning rate of 1.65 per 100,000 population.
• The leading locations for drowning were beaches (31%), ocean/harbours (20%), and rivers (18%)
• 20% occurred among people aged 75 years and over.
• 56% of all WA drowning deaths were people who resided in the most socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.