4,000
fatal unintentional drownings each year
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports an average of 4,083 unintentional drowning deaths each year from 2012 through 2021.
Source: CDC Drowning Facts, updated January 27, 2026Swim safety reference
Drowning prevention and swim lesson statistics
Current U.S. facts about drowning, swimming skills, and formal lessons. Every statistic below names its source and date so families, educators, and writers can use it with confidence.
Last updated September 18, 2026
Key statistics
The facts at a glance
8,000
nonfatal drownings each year
The CDC estimates an average of 8,111 emergency department visits for nonfatal drowning each year from 2012 through 2021.
Source: CDC Drowning Facts, updated January 27, 2026No. 1
cause of death for children ages 1 to 4
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 in the United States.
Source: CDC Drowning Facts, updated January 27, 2026No. 2
unintentional injury death cause for ages 5 to 14
For children ages 5 to 14, drowning is second only to motor vehicle crashes as a cause of unintentional injury death.
Source: CDC Drowning Facts, updated January 27, 20263.1
deaths per 100,000 children ages 1 to 4 in 2022
The 2022 drowning death rate for children ages 1 to 4 was 28.3% higher than the 2019 rate.
Source: CDC Vital Signs report, May 23, 202454.7%
of U.S. adults report never taking a swim lesson
The estimate comes from a nationally representative survey fielded in October and November 2023.
Source: CDC Vital Signs report, May 23, 202440 million
U.S. adults report not knowing how to swim
That represents 15.4% of adults surveyed by the CDC in late 2023.
Source: CDC Vital Signs report, May 23, 202488%
lower drowning risk observed among ages 1 to 4
A 2009 case-control study found an association between formal swimming lessons and an 88% lower drowning risk among children ages 1 to 4. This finding does not replace close, constant supervision around water.
Source: Brenner et al., Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 2009For families
Lessons are one part of water safety
Swimming lessons can help swimmers build skills and comfort in the water. They are not a substitute for active supervision, barriers around pools, life jackets when appropriate, or other layers of protection.
For a more personal starting point, see how Swim NODAK's private lessons are designed around one swimmer at a time.
Explore private lessons →Sources and method
How these statistics were selected
This page uses the most recent national public-health summaries available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, plus a peer-reviewed study on formal swimming lessons. Each statistic is linked directly to its source. Data years vary by measure and are stated with the individual fact.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Drowning Facts, updated January 27, 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vital Signs report, published May 23, 2024.
- Brenner and colleagues, Association Between Swimming Lessons and Drowning in Childhood, published 2009.
Cite this page
Swim NODAK. “Drowning Prevention and Swim Lesson Statistics.” Updated September 18, 2026. https://swimnodak.com/swim-safety-statistics.
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