Fewer fatal drownings in 2021
The 80 deaths were due to accidental drowning. Over the past decade, 73 percent of such cases took place in open water: in a ditch, river, canal, lake, pond or in the sea. Twenty-one percent of drownings happened in or around the home.
Declining number of drownings among children since the 1950s
Since 1950, the number of accidental drownings has fallen sharply, especially among children under 10. Since the 1980s, the decrease in the number of accidental drownings has been less pronounced. In recent decades, the number of accidental drownings has been highest among people aged 60 and over.
| Jaar | Under 10 yrs (per 100 thousand inhabitants) | 10 to 19 yrs (per 100 thousand inhabitants) | 20 to 39 yrs (per 100 thousand inhabitants) | 40 to 59 yrs (per 100 thousand inhabitants) | 60 yrs and over (per 100 thousand inhabitants) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 11.8 | 3.9 | 2.3 | 3.0 | 5.4 |
| 1951 | 9.8 | 2.7 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 5.2 |
| 1952 | 9.5 | 3.2 | 1.9 | 3.2 | 4.7 |
| 1953 | 11.3 | 4.1 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 4.1 |
| 1954 | 9.8 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 4.9 |
| 1955 | 9.1 | 4.2 | 2.0 | 1.9 | 6.6 |
| 1956 | 8.8 | 2.4 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 4.9 |
| 1957 | 9.3 | 4.2 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 6.7 |
| 1958 | 9.9 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 4.1 |
| 1959 | 10.0 | 4.5 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 4.3 |
| 1960 | 9.1 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 4.7 |
| 1961 | 9.5 | 3.0 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 4.4 |
| 1962 | 7.6 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 3.9 |
| 1963 | 9.5 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 3.9 |
| 1964 | 8.5 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 4.6 |
| 1965 | 8.0 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 3.3 |
| 1966 | 8.7 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 5.0 |
| 1967 | 8.4 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 3.9 |
| 1968 | 6.7 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 3.3 |
| 1969 | 6.7 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 3.0 |
| 1970 | 6.1 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 2.7 |
| 1971 | 6.7 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 2.7 |
| 1972 | 6.1 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 2.8 |
| 1973 | 6.1 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 2.1 |
| 1974 | 6.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 2.3 |
| 1975 | 5.4 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 2.4 |
| 1976 | 4.9 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 2.2 |
| 1977 | 4.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.9 |
| 1978 | 4.3 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.7 |
| 1979 | 4.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.6 |
| 1980 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.1 |
| 1981 | 3.9 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.5 |
| 1982 | 4.3 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.7 |
| 1983 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.4 |
| 1984 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.7 |
| 1985 | 2.4 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 1.0 |
| 1986 | 2.3 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.8 |
| 1987 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| 1988 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.9 |
| 1989 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.4 |
| 1990 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.9 |
| 1991 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.8 |
| 1992 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.1 |
| 1993 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.7 |
| 1994 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.9 |
| 1995 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.0 |
| 1996 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| 1997 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.8 |
| 1998 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.6 |
| 1999 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.7 |
| 2000 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 1.2 |
| 2001 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.9 |
| 2002 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 1.4 |
| 2003 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 1.0 |
| 2004 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 1.0 |
| 2005 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 1.1 |
| 2006 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 1.2 |
| 2007 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 1.0 |
| 2008 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.9 |
| 2009 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
| 2010 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.9 |
| 2011 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.9 |
| 2012 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.9 |
| 2013 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.9 |
| 2014 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.0 |
| 2015 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 1.1 |
| 2016 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 1.0 |
| 2017 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.8 |
| 2018 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.2 |
| 2019 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.9 |
| 2020 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 1.2 |
| 2021* | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.7 |
| * provisional figures | |||||
More drownings among children not born in the Netherlands
For both migrants and their children, the number of drownings is proportionally higher than for people with a Dutch background. This appears to be the case for those with a non-European migration background in particular.
Among non-European migrants under the age of 20, the risk of drowning was 9 to 10 times higher than among young people born in the Netherlands. However, children of non-European migrants under the age of 10, who were born in the Netherlands but whose parents were not, also have a higher risk of drowning than children of Dutch origin. Compared to their peers of Dutch origin, the risk of drowning is particularly higher among people aged 20 and over who are of non-European origin, but the difference is smaller than among young people.
Among migrants of European origin, the differences are generally small as well. Within that group, the risk of drowning is higher only for 20 to 39-year-olds.
| Leeftijd | Dutch origin (per 100 thousand inhabitants) | Migrants of non-European origin (per 100 thousand inhabitants) | Children of migrants of non-European origin (per 100 thousand inhabitants) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 yrs | 0.29 | 2.60 | 0.99 |
| 10 to 19 yrs | 0.21 | 2.11 | 0.21 |
| 20 to 39 yrs | 0.22 | 1.02 | 0.47 |
| 40 to 59 yrs | 0.35 | 0.98 | 0.48 |
| 60 yrs and over | 0.94 | 1.15 | 0.23 |
| * provisional figures | |||
Also drownings due to suicide or transport accident
Apart from accidental drownings, people also die every year from drowning caused, for example, by a traffic accident or suicide. In 2021, in addition to the 80 accidental drowning deaths, 38 people died from drowning in traffic and 86 people drowned by suicide. The number of drowning suicides by drowning has decreased slightly over the past ten years, while drownings in traffic have remained stable.
All causes of drowning involve more male than female victims, and people over 60 are also over-represented.
| Jaar | Accidental drownings | Suicides by drowning | Fatal transport accidents | Drownings due to other causes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 81 | 123 | 32 | 5 |
| 2013 | 84 | 106 | 31 | 4 |
| 2014 | 77 | 113 | 38 | 7 |
| 2015 | 83 | 112 | 34 | 6 |
| 2016 | 86 | 113 | 48 | 7 |
| 2017 | 85 | 113 | 40 | 6 |
| 2018 | 112 | 96 | 47 | 6 |
| 2019 | 76 | 90 | 47 | 7 |
| 2020 | 107 | 91 | 37 | 6 |
| 2021* | 80 | 86 | 38 | 6 |
| * provisional figures | ||||
Drownings in the Netherlands include non-residents
Between 2012 and 2021, 394 people who were not residents, such as tourists or temporary workers, also drowned in the Netherlands. Of these cases, 220 were accidental drownings, 92 were suicides and 48 were the result of a transport accident. Aroundbout 6 out of 10 drowned non-residents were from Germany, Poland or Belgium.
Do you need help? Please contact 113 Suicide Prevention (available 24/7) by calling 0900 0113 or seek help online via 113.nl.
Sources
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