rospa-logo
login button
22/10/2026
Quantifying the costs of drowning Banner

Quantifying the costs of drowning – new research published

A new study co-authored by RoSPA, alongside researchers from the National Water Safety Forum and the University of Portsmouth, has found that water-related fatalities in 2023 resulted in more than 15,500 years of life lost and an estimated economic cost of approximately £933 million.

Quantifying the costs of unintentional and intentional drowning in the United Kingdom: A secondary data analysis study examined the human and economic impact of drowning across the UK using data from the Water Incident Database (WAID) to calculate Years of Life Lost (YLL) and the economic Value of a Life Year (VOLY).

The research was undertaken by Professor Mike Tipton, RoSPA Head of Policy Carlene McAvoy, Professor Martin Barwood and Dr Paddy Morgan, and has been published in The Royal Society for Public Health’s journal, Public Health in Practice.

In the UK, there were at least 659 water-related fatalities in 2023, with at least 5,051 lives lost between 2012 and 2019.

The study found that YLL to drowning in 2023 was 15,557 (VOLY £933,444,000). This includes accident-suspected fatalities (7,755 YLL, VOLY £465,312,000) and suicide-suspected fatalities (4,867 YLL, VOLY £291,990,000). Accidents accounted for 5,464, 1,087, 1,076 and 127 YLL in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.

The study’s authors say that the findings demonstrate the wider societal impact of drowning and provide powerful evidence to support investment in prevention, education and water safety initiatives in the UK.

Carlene McAvoy said: "Every drowning death is a devastating tragedy that leaves a lasting impact on families, friends and communities. This research highlights that the consequences are also felt more widely across society, with an estimated economic cost of almost £1 billion in a single year.

“By investing in evidence-based drowning prevention and strengthening leadership across the UK, there is improved opportunity to save lives while reducing a significant and avoidable social and economic burden."