Special Report

The State Where the Most People Drown

John M. Chase / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Douglas A. McIntyre
Published:

Swimming, boating, water skiing, and diving are among the most popular pastimes in warm weather. In northern states, that warm weather may only last four or five months. In southern states, it lasts the entire year. Unfortunately, drowning may result from pastime activities, and the state where most people drown is Alaska.

There is ample opportunity for water sports in the U.S. The National Ocean Services reports the United States has 95,471 miles of coastline and “These measurements included the continental U.S. as well as U.S. territories (Hawaii and Alaska were U.S. territories during this time period).” (This is best place to enjoy the water in each state.)

Additionally, the U.S. has 250 freshwater lakes with surfaces that cover 17,300 square miles. Beyond that, there are tens of thousands of smaller lakes. Some of these are remote, but many of the larger lakes, including the Great Lakes, are easily accessible. (This is the largest lake in America.)

All this water sports activity carries some risks, the worst of which is drowning. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that there are nearly 4,000 unintentional drownings each year, or about 11 per day. The CDC further explains: “Drowning death rates vary from state to state. The annual age-adjusted drowning death rate in the United States during 2015-2019 was 1.23 deaths per 100,000 people (including boating-related drowning deaths).”

To determine the states where the most people drown, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on fatal unintentional drownings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. States were ranked based on the annual age-adjusted drowning death rate from 2015 to 2019. 

America’s two newest states have the highest drowning rates. The figure in Alaska is 4.97 drownings per 100,000 people, followed by Hawaii at 2.90 per 100,000. Southern states make up most of the balance of high drowning rates. Louisiana has 2.20 drownings per 100,000, Florida 2.01 per 100,000, and Mississippi 1.88 per 100,000.

At the other end of the spectrum, several states have drowning rates of less than 1.00 per 100,000. New York is the lowest on the list at 0.65 drownings per 100,000, followed by New Jersey at 0.67 per 100,000, and Connecticut at 0.68 per 100,000. There is no explanation for the low level in the so-called tri-state area around New York City.

Click here to see the state where the most people drown

Lake Placid New York ~ Sunse... by Onasill ~ Bill - Be Safe & Happy
Lake Placid New York ~ Sunse... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Onasill ~ Bill - Be Safe & Happy

50. New York
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 0.65 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 655

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Lake Hopatcong by Terry Ballard
Lake Hopatcong (CC BY 2.0) by Terry Ballard

49. New Jersey
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 0.67 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 312

ALSO READ: This Is Best Place to Enjoy the Water in Each State

Source: Daniel Hanscom / iStock via Getty Images

48. Connecticut
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 0.68 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 123

Sunset On The Delaware at Wash... by James Loesch
Sunset On The Delaware at Wash... (CC BY 2.0) by James Loesch

47. Delaware
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 0.71 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 36

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Pennsylvania by GPA Photo Archive
Pennsylvania (CC BY 2.0) by GPA Photo Archive

46. Pennsylvania
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 0.76 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 490

Martha's Vineyard - Massachuse... by David Berkowitz
Martha's Vineyard - Massachuse... (CC BY 2.0) by David Berkowitz

45. Massachusetts
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 0.78 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 285

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Source: nameinfame / iStock via Getty Images

44. Nebraska
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 0.89 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 87

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Stevensville, Maryland by Antonio Zugaldia
Stevensville, Maryland (CC BY 2.0) by Antonio Zugaldia

43. Maryland
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 0.91 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 278

Source: JaySi / iStock via Getty Images

42. Illinois
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 0.96 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 619

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Source: Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images

41. Ohio
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 0.96 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 562

Source: krblokhin / iStock via Getty Images

40. Virginia
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 0.96 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 429

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Source: 93558439@N05 / Flickr

39. Minnesota
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.00 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 288

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Lake Sugema, Iowa by Steven Garner
Lake Sugema, Iowa (CC BY 2.0) by Steven Garner

38. Iowa
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.01 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 162

Newport, Rhode Island by Doug Kerr
Newport, Rhode Island (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Doug Kerr

37. Rhode Island
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.04 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 55

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Lake Johnson, North Carolina by Sergey Galyonkin
Lake Johnson, North Carolina (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Sergey Galyonkin

36. North Carolina
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.05 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 547

Mosquito Lake by Kevin Dooley
Mosquito Lake (CC BY 2.0) by Kevin Dooley

35. California
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.08 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 2,181

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Lake Winnipesaukee - New Hamps... by Doug Kerr
Lake Winnipesaukee - New Hamps... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Doug Kerr

34. New Hampshire
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.08 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 79

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Source: Lindsey Martin Webb / iStock via Getty Images

33. Kansas
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.09 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 161

Source: sharply_done / E+ via Getty Images

32. Michigan
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.10 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 580

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Source: volvob12b / Flickr

31. Utah
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.12 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 169

Indiana Beach 002 by Jeremy Thompson
Indiana Beach 002 (CC BY 2.0) by Jeremy Thompson

30. Indiana
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.13 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 369

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Lake Geneva, Wisconsin by atramos
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (CC BY 2.0) by atramos

29. Wisconsin
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.13 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 331

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Western North Dakota by Heather
Western North Dakota (CC BY 2.0) by Heather

28. North Dakota
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.19 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 48

Source: MariuszBlach / iStock via Getty Images

27. Nevada
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.25 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 189

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Source: tomorrowspix / iStock via Getty Images

26. Missouri
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.31 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 395

sprague lake inlet by Christian Collins
sprague lake inlet (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Christian Collins

25. Colorado
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.33 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 381

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Sylvan Lake, Custer State Park... by Sharon Mollerus
Sylvan Lake, Custer State Park... (CC BY 2.0) by Sharon Mollerus

24. South Dakota
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.33 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 56

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20181022-PA220414 by deldevries
20181022-PA220414 (CC BY-SA 2.0) by deldevries

23. Tennessee
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.33 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 450

Lake Willoughby by Kim Woodbridge
Lake Willoughby (CC BY 2.0) by Kim Woodbridge

22. Vermont
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.36 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 41

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Source: RAUL RODRIGUEZ / iStock via Getty Images

21. Texas
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.37 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1,956

Mercier Orchards by Olin Gilbert
Mercier Orchards (CC BY 2.0) by Olin Gilbert

20. Georgia
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.39 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 723

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Harpers Ferry, West Virginia by Doug Kerr
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Doug Kerr

19. West Virginia
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.41 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 126

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Family fishing by Kevin Dooley
Family fishing (CC BY 2.0) by Kevin Dooley

18. Arizona
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.42 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 511

Chama River, New Mexico 1 by Mark Tyra
Chama River, New Mexico 1 (CC BY 2.0) by Mark Tyra

17. New Mexico
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.43 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 150

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Source: gmc3101 / iStock via Getty Images

16. Washington
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.44 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 554

Source: volgariver / iStock via Getty Images

15. Kentucky
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.45 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 315

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Lake Keeowee, South Carolina by Andy Montgomery
Lake Keeowee, South Carolina (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Andy Montgomery

14. South Carolina
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.56 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 394

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Alabama by Chad Fennell
Alabama (CC BY 2.0) by Chad Fennell

13. Alabama
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.63 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 404

Mt. Kineo at day by Kevin Dooley
Mt. Kineo at day (CC BY 2.0) by Kevin Dooley

12. Maine
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.64 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 112

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Source: icetsarina / Flickr

11. Oregon
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.64 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 344

Saint Mary Lake by Bernd Thaller
Saint Mary Lake (CC BY 2.0) by Bernd Thaller

10. Montana
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.66 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 88

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Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images

9. Idaho
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.74 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 148

ALSO READ: This Is Best Place to Enjoy the Water in Each State

Sailing on Beaver Lake, Garfie... by Rubberducky53171
Sailing on Beaver Lake, Garfie... (CC BY 2.0) by Rubberducky53171

8. Arkansas
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.78 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 262

Source: Tamara Harding / iStock via Getty Images

7. Oklahoma
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.82 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 363

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Source: jack-sooksan / iStock via Getty Images

6. Wyoming
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.85 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 54

Source: paul_westra / Flickr

5. Mississippi
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 1.88 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 278

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Source: Jaimie Tuchman / iStock via Getty Images

4. Florida
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 2.01 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 2,197

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Source: Jaimie Tuchman / iStock via Getty Images

3. Louisiana
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 2.20 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 522

Shark's Cove by tdlucas5000
Shark's Cove (CC BY 2.0) by tdlucas5000

2. Hawaii
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 2.90 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 224

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On Glacier Bay In Alaska by Bud Ellison
On Glacier Bay In Alaska (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Bud Ellison

1. Alaska
> Annual drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 4.97 per 100,000
> Total drowning deaths, 2015-2019: 184

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