Shark attack statistics: Australia’s most dangerous beaches for shark attacks

Shark attack statistics put Australia second in the world for the most number of unprovoked attacks, with New South Wales the most dangerous state in the country.

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Jessica Prasida

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Key takeaways

  • New South Wales recorded 214 unprovoked shark attacks since 1988, making it Australia’s most frequent hotspot.
  • While NSW leads in attacks, Western Australia records the majority of shark attack fatalities.
  • Consider travel insurance for coastal activities like surfing to help protect your trip.
Shark attack statistics show that there have been more than 622 unprovoked shark attacks in Australia since 1988. While most recorded attacks have occurred in New South Wales, the majority of fatalities transpired in Western Australia.

Finder analysed data released by the Shark Research Institute's Global Shark Attack File, determining hotspot coastal locations around the country where hundreds of unprovoked shark attacks have occurred between 1988 and 2024.

214 attacks took place off the coast of NSW, almost double the 134 attacks recorded in Queensland, which came in second.

Shark attack prevalence by Australian state over a 25-year period from 1988

StateAttacks
New South Wales214
Western Australia154
Queensland134
South Australia50
Victoria41
Tasmania13
Northern Territory12
Torres Strait3
Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands1
Total622

Source: finder.com.au, www.sharkattackfile.net *Not all shark incidents are recorded by state, and some are unaccounted for due to ocean locations.

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Travel Insurance Expert

Jessica Prasida brings a decade of experience in the travel industry, including over four years as a travel agent and branch manager at STA Travel. She holds a Bachelor of Business and a Master of Marketing from the University of Technology, Sydney, as well as a Tier 1 General Insurance qualification that complies with ASIC guidelines. An avid traveller herself, Jessica combines her professional expertise with a passion for ensuring safe and enjoyable journeys for all travellers. Jessica was a Travel Insurance Publisher at Finder from 2019 to 2024. See full bio

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