Most dangerous sports in Australia

Different sports often involve similar movements, which come with comparable risks. By putting these sports into groups, we can figure out which categories have been the most dangerous for Australians.

The number of injuries in each category won't always tell you how dangerous it is overall, however. This is because more people regularly participate in a certain type of sport, increasing the likelihood of injuries simply because of the larger number.

It's more effective to look at the injury rate of participants instead. We've taken a look at the number of injuries and the injury rate across different sports in Australia to give a clearer picture of the 10 most dangerous categories.

_{*Figures represent sport-related injuries from respondents from 1 January to 31 December 2022.}

Which sports injuries are most common?

Fractures are by far the most common sports injury in Australia, accounting for over half of all sports injuries in both men and women. The table below gives a breakdown of some of the most common sports injuries. Toggle through to see how they differ between men and women.

• All
• Men
• Women

Which body parts are most likely to be hurt?

Most serious sporting injuries are related to the hip and lower limb, excluding the ankle and foot. The table below shows a breakdown of which body parts Aussies frequently injure while playing sports.

• All
• Men
• Women

Who is most likely to be injured while playing sport?

Men aged 25–44 are most likely to be hospitalised due to a sports injury in Australia. The table below shows a breakdown of which age groups sustain the most injuries, as well as the number of injuries per 100,000 participants.

Use the tabs at the top of the table to see how the statistics vary between the general population, men and women.

• General population
• Men
• Women

How often do sports lead to concussions?

There's a growing concern in Australia and internationally about the amount of sport-related concussions. According to research by the AIHW, there were almost 2,300 hospitalisations for concussions caused by sports between 2021 and 2022. Around 1,600 of these were in males, and 700 were in females.

While the short-term symptoms can be reversible, a single knock to the head can have serious consequences in later life. As well as mental health and, in some cases, financial issues, this has led to many Australians not being able to participate in their sport, attend school or have to take time off work.

Remember, the data used in this article only reflects sports injuries that required an overnight stay in the hospital. It's likely there are many thousands more cases of who were discharged within a day or that only required a doctor's appointment, but many still have kept people off work.

How can income protection insurance help?

Income protection insurance is designed to pay you a portion of your typical earnings if you're ever too sick or injured to work. For people who play sport regularly, that could mean a financial safety net in case you're hit by a bad tackle, take a tumble on the pitch or get knocked off your bike.

Remember, though, some more dangerous sports, like motor racing, may not be covered, and waiting periods may apply.

What about sports injuries and kids?

According to the AIHW, around 21% of children are hospitalised due to sports, exercise, or recreational activity. In 2021-22 this accounted for 18,700 total hospitalisations.

• Over 1 in 3 injury hospitalisations for children aged 10-12 and 13-15 involved sports.
• Cycling (16%) caused the highest number of hospitalisations across all age groups outside of adolescents, with 3000 cases.
• Roller sports (16%) was second, and 1800 cases.
• Australian Rules Football was third (9%), with 1750 cases.

Adolescents aged 16-18 typically have the highest rates of sports injury hospitalisations. However, they also have the highest rates of sports participation. In 2021-22, Australian Rules Football (14%), Rugby codes (13%), and Soccer (9%) were the leading causes of hospitalisations for adolescents.