Overview
- The 2025 global count sits below the ten‑year average of 72 unprovoked attacks.
- The United States recorded 25 cases, the most of any country, while Australia had 21 and a majority of fatalities.
- About one‑third of recorded incidents involved surfers, reflecting exposure in turbid, fish‑rich waters.
- The ISAF review covers only unprovoked encounters and excludes 29 incidents tied to human contact such as spearfishing or freeing sharks from nets.
- Context from the Florida Museum notes far more annual deaths from drowning and lightning, and researchers warn many large shark species face threats.