Key Statistics at a Glance
Sources: CDC, Risk Factors for Drowning (January 27, 2026); CPSC, Pool or Spa Submersion report, 2026 (May 2026); Thompson and Rivara, Cochrane review CD001047 (1998; stable 2010).
The 376 figure counts pool- or spa-related drowning deaths reported to CPSC staff for children under 15, averaged over 2021 to 2023, at any location. CPSC calls these minimum counts, because they come from incident reports, and fatality data lag by about three years. CPSC publishes a new report each spring.
What the 2026 CPSC Report Found
The CPSC 2026 pool and spa submersion report counted 1,128 pool- or spa-related drowning deaths of children under 15 from 2021 to 2023, an average of 376 a year. The yearly counts were 390 in 2021, 359 in 2022 and 379 in 2023.
| Finding (children under 15) | CPSC figure |
|---|---|
| Deaths at a residence: the child's home, a relative's or friend's home, or a neighbor's | 71% (child's own home: 51%) |
| Deaths of children under 5 | 77% (291 a year) |
| Deaths in pools rather than spas | 95% |
| Emergency department visits for nonfatal pool or spa drowning injuries, 2023 to 2025 | About 5,900 a year |
| Share of those children admitted or transferred to another hospital | 42% |
For children under 5, CPSC classified how each drowning happened. In 59% of reports, an adult had lost track of where the child was. In 10%, the barrier had failed or had been gotten around.
Risk by Age
The CDC reports that drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, and that where people drown changes with age:
| Age group | What the CDC reports |
|---|---|
| Under 1 | Three quarters of drownings happen in bathtubs. |
| Ages 1–4 | Drowning is the leading cause of death. Most drownings happen in swimming pools. |
| Ages 5–14 | Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death, after motor vehicle crashes. Over 40% of drownings happen in natural water and over 35% in swimming pools. |
| 15 and older | Almost half of fatal drownings happen in natural water such as lakes, rivers or oceans. |
The CDC also reports that nearly 80% of people who die from drowning are male, that alcohol is involved in up to 70% of deaths linked to water recreation among adolescents and adults, and that seizure disorders and heart conditions raise the risk. It notes that drowning can happen quickly and quietly, including when a child is not expected to be near water.
How Pool Fences Reduce Drowning Risk
The most frequently cited research on pool fence effectiveness is a Cochrane systematic review by Thompson and Rivara (first published 1998; content assessed up to date October 2006; marked stable, no update expected, in 2010). It pooled three case-control studies. Fenced pools had an odds ratio of 0.27 for drowning or near drowning compared with unfenced pools. Four-sided isolation fencing had an odds ratio of 0.17 for drowning compared with three-sided fencing, where the house forms one side: 83% lower odds.
Several state laws, including those in Arizona, Florida and California, list isolation fencing as a compliant option. Arizona lets the house form part of the enclosure only with added protection, such as a separate 4-foot barrier between the house and the pool. Check your state's rule on our state requirements page.
In the Cochrane review, fences that used the house as one wall were linked to higher odds of drowning than four-sided isolation fences. Whether a house wall may form part of the barrier varies by state.
Swim Lessons
A case-control study by Brenner and colleagues (2009) found that among children ages 1 to 4, formal swim lessons were linked to 88% lower odds of drowning (adjusted odds ratio 0.12). The estimate is imprecise: it rests on 61 drowning cases, and the 95% confidence interval runs from 0.01 to 0.97, a reduction anywhere from 3% to 99%. The study found no significant association for ages 5 to 19. CPSC recommends layers of protection, including barriers, alarms, covers, supervision, swim lessons and CPR training (CPSC, June 24, 2026).
Sources
Every figure on this page traces to one of these. We link the primary source so you can check it yourself. Reviewed September 2026.
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Pool or Spa Submersion: Estimated Nonfatal Drowning Injuries and Reported Drownings, 2026 Report (May 2026) (376 deaths a year, 2021 to 2023; location, age, product and scenario tables; emergency department estimates, 2023 to 2025)
- CPSC news release 26-572, June 24, 2026 (summary of the 2026 report; layers-of-protection advice)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Risk Factors for Drowning (January 27, 2026) (leading cause of death ages 1 to 4; drowning location by age; sex, alcohol and medical risk factors)
- Thompson DC, Rivara F. Pool fencing for preventing drowning of children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 1998, Issue 1, CD001047 (stable, no update expected, Issue 9, 2010; content assessed up to date October 11, 2006; odds ratios 0.17 and 0.27)
- Brenner RA et al. Association between swimming lessons and drowning in childhood: a case-control study. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine 2009;163(3):203-210 (adjusted odds ratio 0.12, ages 1 to 4)
For Journalists & Researchers
If you're citing data from this page, check the latest CPSC submersion report before publication: CPSC publishes a new one each spring, and its fatality counts are revised as reports come in. We're happy to provide additional context or point you to the primary sources.
Contact: info@fencemypool.com
When citing this resource, please link to: fencemypool.com/resources/pool-drowning-statistics/