Alaska Recorded Highest Drowning Rate from 2020 to 2024
State data showed Alaska had 8.63 drowning deaths per 100,000 residents during the five-year period.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Swimming
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Alaska reported the highest drowning death rate in the United States between 2020 and 2024, with 8.63 fatalities per 100,000 residents. A total of 317 people died from drowning in the state during this timeframe, averaging 63.4 deaths per year.
Why it matters
The high rate is attributed to a combination of remote waterways, cold water temperatures, and limited availability of safety resources. These factors contribute to Alaska significantly outpacing other states in per-capita drowning fatalities.
Alaska averaged 8.63 drowning deaths per 100,000 residents, the highest in the country, while Hawaii followed with 7.24 per 100,000. For comparison, Connecticut recorded the lowest rate in the nation at 2.01 deaths per 100,000 residents.
The players
CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a national public health agency that collects and analyzes injury data.
The details
Analysts calculated these figures using CDC injury data adjusted for the state's population of over 734,550 residents. The statistics highlight a persistent challenge regarding water safety in Alaska's vast, often isolated geography.
Timeline
The data collection period for these drowning fatalities spanned from 2020 to 2024.
Season Trajectory
This data establishes a comparative baseline for state-level water safety performance against the broader national landscape. It highlights a clear disparity in drowning mortality risk that diverges sharply between Alaska's remote, cold-water environment and other regions.
The elevated mortality rate underscores the heightened personal risk for residents and visitors navigating Alaska's remote and frigid waterways. It serves as a stark metric for the necessity of increased safety resources and caution in cold-water environments.
The takeaway
Understanding these local risks is essential for anyone participating in water-based activities in Alaska. Residents should prioritize cold-water safety protocols and ensure they have access to appropriate emergency resources when entering remote areas.
Further reading
For more context on safety standards, visit Swimming.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Peninsula Clarion.
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