Regional Status Report on Drowning Prevention in the South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions

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Last Updated26/07/2021

WHO has launched its first Regional Status Report on Drowning Prevention in the South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions.
This report said that nearly two-thirds of all global deaths due to drowning occur in the Asia Pacific region.
The United Nations has designated July 25 every year as World Drowning Day.

At least 236,000 people drown every year, and drowning is among the ten leading causes of death for children and youth aged 1-24 years.
More than 90% of drowning deaths occur in rivers, lakes, wells and domestic water storage vessels in low- and middle-income countries.
Half of all drowning deaths are in the Western Pacific and South-East Asia regions.
Rates of drowning deaths per 100 000 population are highest, however, in the Western Pacific region followed by the African region.
In 48 of the 85 countries which have data on drowning, it is among the top five causes of death for children who are under 15 years of age.
Drowning accounts for 75% of all deaths during flood disasters. Many countries in the South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions are vulnerable to this form of disaster.
In the year 2019, more than 1,44,000 people had drowned in the Asia Pacific region which accounts for 61% of all global drowning deaths.
Around 70,000 and 74,000 deaths in the WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions respectively occurred due to drowning.
Of the 70,000 drowning related deaths more than 33% were among children who were aged less than 15 years.
On average, men were more likely to drown than women.

installing barriers controlling access to water
providing safe places away from water such as crèches for pre-school children with capable childcare
teaching swimming, water safety and safe rescue skills
training bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation
setting and enforcing safe boating, shipping and ferry regulations
improving flood risk management