The Swell Report — Surf & Beach Statisticssurfspotguide.com
Original data · Free to cite
Surf & Beach Statistics 2026
Studies built from National Weather Service, EPA, CPSC and NOAA records and Google search data. Every figure links to its source and method, with charts and CSVs you can use.
667vs15
Rip-current deaths against shark deaths. Rip currents killed 44 times as many people, yet Americans Google sharks more.
NWS surf-zone fatalities (preliminary) · International Shark Attack File
- Warmest winter water of 27 surf towns: Hawaii, Jan–Feb
- 77°F NOAA
- Surf-zone deaths in Florida, the most of any state
- 320 NWS · 2010–25
- Estimated ER visits a year for surfing injuries
- 8,300 CPSC · 2019–25
- Swim-season beach days under a swimming advisory
- 5.8% EPA · 2024
- Monthly US searches about sunburn at the beach
- 117,000 Google search
- States whose top out-of-state beach is Myrtle Beach
- 15 Google search
The studies
Updated yearly · Same URL every edition
- Shark bites · ISAFUS Shark Attack Statistics663 confirmed unprovoked bites in the 50 states from 2010 to 2025, by year, state and Florida county. † = fatal.Read the study →
- Beach safety · NWSAmerica's Most Dangerous BeachesEvery surf-zone death the Weather Service recorded from 2010 to 2025: 1,239 deaths, 75% from rip currents, mapped by beach.Read the study →
- Search data · GoogleAmerica's Beach FearsWhat each state worries about at the beach, from Google searches per 100,000 residents. Sharks out-search rip currents.Read the study →
- Search data · TravelThe Most-Searched Beach Destination in Every StateEach state's top beach outside its own borders, by number of states won. Myrtle Beach wins 15.Read the study →
- Search data · SurfingAmerica's Most Surf-Obsessed StatesSurf searches per 100,000 residents in every state. Hawaii is off the chart; these are the next five.Read the study →
- Ocean temperature · NOAAWarmest US Surf Towns in WinterMonthly ocean temperature in 27 surf towns from NOAA sensors, and what wetsuit to wear in each.Read the study →
- Water quality · EPAAmerica's Dirtiest BeachesWhich beaches spent the most days unsafe for swimming, which states had the highest share, and why.Read the study →
- Surf safety · CPSCSurfing Injury StatisticsWhat sends surfers to the emergency room, and how often the board is to blame. Federal injury data, 2019 to 2025.Read the study →
- Trade data · CensusWhere America's Surfboards Come FromEvery surfboard imported into the US, by year and country, from 2019: the pandemic boom, the bust, and China losing ground.Read the study →
Key statistics
One citable figure per study, with source and period.
- 01Unprovoked shark bites in the 50 US states, 2010–2025 (663, 15 fatal)International Shark Attack File · 2010–2025
- 02Florida recorded the most surf-zone deaths of any state (320)National Weather Service · 2010–2025
- 03Most-searched beach worry in the US (sunburn, about 117,000 searches a month)Google Ads via DataForSEO · 2025–2026
- 04Myrtle Beach was the most-searched out-of-state beach destination in 15 statesGoogle Ads via DataForSEO · 2025–2026
- 05Hawaii searches about surfing 15.2× the US rate per person, the most of any stateGoogle Ads via DataForSEO · 2025–2026
- 06Hawaii's surf towns had the warmest winter ocean water of the 27 measured (about 77°F in January and February)NOAA · 2023–2026
- 07Share of swim-season days 50-state beaches spent under advisory (5.8%)US EPA BEACON · 2024
- 08Estimated US ER visits for surfing and board-sport injuries (about 8,300 a year)CPSC NEISS · 2019–2025
- 09Surfboards imported into the US at the 2021 peak (1,975,715)US Census Bureau · 2019–2025
For journalists
Free to use with a credit
Need your state's numbers, a beach-by-beach list or a quote? We'll pull it the same day.
ChartsEvery chart has a Download PNG button, sized for articles, with the source printed on it.
DataEach study has a CSV of its full table, plus the method and original sources.
More surf data
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Live NOAA readings and monthly averages for US surf towns.
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Lesson prices by state, from the schools we list.
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New and used board prices by type.