Your Odds of Getting Bitten by a Shark Are Lower Than You Think
Every summer, sharks seem to get terrible publicity. A handful of dramatic headlines can make it feel like the ocean has suddenly become much more dangerous.
But, the latest shark attack report from the Florida Museum of Natural History tells a very different story.
While shark bites did increase in 2025, researchers say the numbers are exactly what they would expect in a typical year. In other words, it's not that sharks are becoming bolder. It's that 2024 was unusually quiet.
Shark Bites Returned to Normal Levels
According to the International Shark Attack File, researchers investigated 105 reported shark-human interactions around the world in 2025.
After reviewing each case, they confirmed 65 unprovoked shark attacks, and 29 provoked incidents where people were fishing, handling sharks, or otherwise interacting with them.
Although 65 unprovoked shark bites is higher than the total reported in 2024, it's almost identical to the average recorded over the past decade.
Researchers say the latest numbers don't point to a growing shark problem. Instead, they show that last year's unusually low numbers simply returned to normal.
Florida Still Leads the Nation
When it comes to Florida shark bites, once again, the Sunshine State topped the list in the United States.
Florida recorded 11 unprovoked bites during 2025, accounting for nearly half of all U.S. cases. Six of those happened in Volusia County, home to New Smyrna Beach, a stretch of coastline that's proudly, and perhaps a little nervously, known as the "Shark Bite Capital of the World."
That nickname might sound alarming, but there's a simple explanation. New Smyrna Beach is popular with surfers, swimmers, and sharks that feed close to shore.
When thousands of people and plenty of marine life share the same water every day, occasional encounters are bound to happen.
Who Gets Bitten Most Often
The report also sheds light on who experiences the most shark bites. Nearly half of all the unprovoked bites involved people who were swimming or wading in the water. Surfers accounted for another large share, followed by snorkelers and free divers.
That probably isn't surprising. The more time you spend in the ocean, the greater your chances are of crossing paths with the wildlife that already lives there.
Fortunately, those chances are still incredibly small. Millions of people visit beaches every year without ever seeing a shark, let alone being bitten by one.
Don't Let the Headlines Keep You on the Shoreline
It's easy to remember the dramatic stories because they make national news. The millions of beach days where nothing happens never make the headlines.
The latest shark attack report is a good reminder that the ocean is remarkably safe for swimmers, surfers, and families.
Paying attention to lifeguards, avoiding murky water, and staying away from schools of fish are all smart precautions, but there's no reason to let fear ruin your beach plans.
The next time you see headlines about shark attacks, remember the bigger picture. The numbers show that shark bites are rare, even in a year that looked busier than the last. So pack your sunscreen, grab your beach towel, and enjoy the waves. The odds are overwhelmingly in your favor.
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