They swim silently beneath the surface, unseen and unnerving. Sharks have long been a symbol of fear, danger and mystery.
Although it is very rare to be bitten by a shark – a 1-in-3.7 million chance – the concern about shark attacks continues.
According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), which is maintained by the Florida Museum of Natural History, the U.S. is the leading country in the world for the number of unprovoked shark bites, with at least 1,660 reported since the 1800s.
So far this year, there have been 12 shark attacks in the U.S., with seven incidents taking place in Florida.
And Florida is not alone. Certain states, like California and Hawaii, have seen more encounters between humans and sharks than anywhere else in the country.
CHILD INJURED IN SHARK ATTACK ALONG SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BEACH
While the risk of an attack remains extremely low, the numbers give some insight into where one might be more at risk.
Here are the top five states where the most shark attacks have occurred.
Sunrise in Daytona Beach on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025.
(Brandy Campbell / FOX Weather)
1. Florida
Known as the shark bite capital, there have been more than 900 shark encounters in the Sunshine State since 1837. This is far more than any other state.
In 2024, there were 14 cases, representing 50% of the U.S. overall shark attack incidents and 30% of unprovoked bites worldwide.
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One beach that is located on the east coast of Florida was even called “the global hotspot” for shark attacks.
New Smyrna Beach has had a record of 277 shark encounters since 1642, per Tideschart’s report.
FILE – Dark rain clouds over Hanalei beach on the northern end of the Hawaiian Island of Kauai, Hawaii. (Photo by Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
2. Hawaii
The Aloha State comes in second with over 200 shark bite incidents since the 1800s and 42 fatalities.
With Maui and O’ahu leading the state in shark attacks, most encounters in Hawaii are “unprovoked exploratory bites.” This means the incident occurred in the shark’s natural habitat, not by a human provoking the shark.
This happens when people are surfing, paddleboarding or swimming in areas where sharks feed.
The majority of incidents involve surfers or bodyboarders.
“People surf where there are good waves, and where there are good waves, there’s turbidity, and where there’s turbidity, there are often bait fish that attract sharks,” the director of the Florida Program for Shark Research, Gavin Naylor, said. “The turbidity also reduces visibility in the water, making it harder for sharks to see. Some of them make mistakes.”
FILE – Crowds hit Laguna Beach, California, to beat the record-high temperatures.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images / Getty Images)
3. California
Coming in third on the list is California with 225 shark attacks. At least 197 of those encounters involved great white sharks. Of those cases, 16 cases were fatal, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Most incidents occur during the months of August, September and October.
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In recent decades, fewer than three great white shark incidents happen per year.
FILE – Surfers work the waves on Folly Beach, South Carolina.
(Mark Wallheiser / Getty Images)
4. South Carolina
With more than 150 recorded shark encounters, South Carolina is ranked fourth in the U.S.
While sharks are very common in the Southern State’s waters, attacks are very rare. Roughly four shark bites happen each year.
Recently, two people were bitten by a shark in less than a week at Hilton Head Island.
FILE – Surf pounds the beach at Carolina Beach, North Carolina, on Sept. 14, 2024, ahead of a developing system that may become a tropical depression or storm next week.
(Brandy Campbell / FOX Weather)
5. North Carolina
Lastly, coming in fifth is North Carolina with over 80 shark attack incidents since the 1800s.
Over the past few decades, the state has averaged roughly 2.4 shark bite incidents per year.
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Most encounters occur during the summer months when the water is warm, there are strong currents, and there are plenty of fish in the area, making it the perfect storm for shark attacks.
