Article
A Drowning Risk We Do Not Talk About Enough: Overseas-Born Australians
New analysis from Aquatots shows that overseas-born Australians are at a higher risk of drowning. With National Water Safety Day on December 1, 2025, we need to ask: Are we reaching the communities at the highest risk?
Key findings
- Over the last
20 years, people born overseas have often made up a
bigger share of drowning deaths than their share of the population. In the late 2010s, they were about
30% of the population but up to
40% of drowning deaths.
- In the five years before COVID
(2015-16 to 2019-20), overseas-born Australians drowned at a rate about
25% higher than the overall population. This occurred while the national drowning rate improved. It suggests that overseas-born communities did not benefit as much as those born in Australia.
- From
2005-06 to 2023-24, there were
1,627 drowning deaths among people born overseas - over
30% of all drowning deaths in that period.
- From 2013-14 to 2022-23, the average annual drowning rate was 1.04 deaths per 100,000 for Australian-born residents. For overseas-born residents, it was 1.30. For Nepal-born people, it was 2.48, and for China-born people, it was 1.98.
Australia loves water, but not everyone is equally safe. Our analysis of 20 years of drowning data shows a clear pattern. People born overseas are often carrying more than their share of the grief.
Chart 1
Chart 1 shows how the picture has changed over time.
In the mid-2000s, overseas-born residents were about a quarter of the population. They were also about a quarter of drowning deaths.
Over time, that changed. By the late 2010s, people born overseas made up roughly 30% of Australia’s population. But in some years, they accounted for around 40% of drowning deaths.
A five-year bracket analysis highlights this shift (2024-25 excluded, overseas-born drowning data is provisional):
- 2005-06 to 2009-10: overseas-born people were about 27% of drowning deaths.
- 2010-11 to 2014-15: overseas-born people’s share rose to about 29%.
- 2015-16 to 2019-20: it jumped to over 36%, more than one in three deaths.
- 2020-21 to 2023-24: the share sits at about 29%.
This raises an important question. Is this simply due to the growth of the overseas-born population, or are overseas-born Australians actually less safe in the water?
To answer this question, we look at deaths per 100,000 people per year, the crude annual drowning rate. For much of the last 20 years, the rate for people born overseas has sat above the rate for the population as a whole (see chart 2).
Chart 2
In the five years before COVID (2015–16 to 2019–20), the drowning rate for overseas-born Australians was about 25% higher than the national average. In some of those years, the ‘extra risk’ climbed close to 40%.
For most of the period, the risk ratio (shown by the yellow dashed line in Chart 2) is at or above 1.0. This means overseas-born Australians were as likely, and often more likely, to drown than the average Australian.
Since COVID, the two lines have moved closer together. Overall drowning has gone up, and the gap between overseas-born and Australian-born has narrowed. But the long-term story is clear; for many years, overseas-born Australians - including many culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities were more likely to die once they entered the water.
The CALD communities cover many different communities. We focused on three large migrant communities: people born in China, India, and Nepal.
In 2005, the Nepal-born population in Australia was about 3,800. By 2024, it was around 197,800, more than 50 times larger. Over the same period, the India-born population grew by more than fivefold, and the China-born population by more than threefold.
We used ten years of Royal Life Saving National Fatal Drowning Database Dashboard data (2013-14 to 2022-23) and population figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. We calculated average annual drowning rates per 100,000 people and compared different groups (see chart 3).
Chart 3
Two things stand out from chart 3:
- People born in Nepal and China seem to have a higher risk of drowning. This risk is greater than the average for those born overseas and for the Australian-born population.
- People born in India have a lower crude rate, but India and Nepal together still account for around seven drowning deaths a year on average.
Across this time period
(2013-14 to 2022-23), there were
933 drowning deaths
among people born overseas.
181
of these involved people born in
China, India, or Nepal, almost one in five overseas-born drowning deaths.
What this means for a drowning-free Australia
This study doesn’t explain all the reasons for the numbers. But it clearly shows that if Australia aims to reduce drowning deaths by half, CALD communities need to be included.
We know that overseas-born Australians face a higher drowning risk, it's time for specific action:
- Make swimming lessons more affordable and culturally safe.
- Offer water safety information in multiple languages.
- Listen to CALD communities about the barriers they face and the support they need.
Recognizing these patterns and admitting the gaps is the first step to real progress. It’s key to a drowning-free nation where no family is left behind.
Methodology & Data Notes
Data Sources
- NATIONAL DROWNING REPORT, Royal Life Saving Australia, several years
- Royal Life Saving National Fatal Drowning Database Dashboard
- 34090DO001_2024 Australia's population by country of birth 2024, Estimated resident population by country of birth - as at 30 June, 1996 to 2024, Released at 11:30 am (Canberra time) 30 April 2025, Australian Bureau of Statistics
- A 10 YEAR NATIONAL STUDY OF OVERSEAS BORN DROWNING DEATHS, 2005/06 to 2014/15, Royal Life Saving Australia
- Drowning Among Multicultural Communities in Australia, AN UPDATE: 2013/14 TO 2022/23, Royal Life Saving Australia
Formula
- Crude drowning rate
(raw death count in the year/population of the year) * 100,000
- Risk Ratio
Overseas-born drowning rate/Australian-born drowning rate
A value above 1 means overseas-born Australians face higher drowning risk.
Note
- 'Overseas-born' is not the same as 'CALD', our analysis focuses on country of birth
- We used the Royal Life Saving National Fatal Drowning Database Dashboard to analyse the annual total drowning death counts. The dashboard reports 316 deaths for the 2023-24 period. National Drowning Report 2024, Royal Life Saving Australia shows 323. The difference does not affect any trend or conclusion in the analysis.
Using our work
Aquatots Research & Data Team's work is meant to be shared and used widely. You do not need to seek our permission to reuse our article, charts, data, you just need to provide credit - http://www.aquatots.com.au/a-drowning-risk-we-do-not-talk-about-enough:-overseas-born-australians
About Aquatots
Why Swimming Is The Best Base Sport
When it comes to choosing the right sport for your child, the options are endless. From soccer and basketball to gymnastics and martial arts, each sport offers its unique benefits. However, if you're looking for the best foundational sport that can enhance your child's abilities in any other physical activity, swimming stands out as the top choice. Here’s why swimming is the ultimate base sport for any athletic endeavour your child may pursue.
1. Full-Body Conditioning
Swimming is one of the few sports that engages nearly every muscle group in the body. When a child swims, they use their arms, legs, core, and back, resulting in balanced muscle development. This full-body conditioning creates a strong foundation that can improve performance in any other sport. Whether your child wants to play soccer, tennis, or basketball, the strength and endurance gained from swimming will give them an advantage.
2. Enhanced Cardiovascular Fitness
Swimming is an aerobic exercise that significantly boosts cardiovascular fitness. Regular swimming improves heart and lung capacity, making it easier for children to sustain energy during other sports. This enhanced cardiovascular endurance allows them to perform better, whether they’re running down the soccer field, hitting a tennis ball, or sprinting on the track.
3. Improved Coordination and Balance
Swimming requires a high degree of coordination and balance, as children must move their arms and legs in sync while maintaining proper body position in the water. These skills are transferable to virtually any sport. For instance, the coordination developed in swimming can improve a child’s ability to dribble a basketball, execute a gymnastics routine, or maintain control during a dance performance.
4. Increased Flexibility
The range of motion required for swimming strokes naturally enhances flexibility. Unlike many sports that can cause muscle tightness, swimming promotes lengthening and stretching of muscles. This increased flexibility reduces the risk of injury in other sports and allows for a greater range of motion, which is crucial in activities like gymnastics, martial arts, and dance.
5. Mental Toughness and Focus
Swimming requires concentration, discipline, and perseverance—qualities that are essential for success in any sport. The mental toughness developed in swimming, such as pushing through the last lap or perfecting a challenging stroke, can translate into a resilient mindset in other sports. This mental edge helps children stay focused, handle pressure, and overcome obstacles.
6. Low Impact, High Reward
One of the greatest advantages of swimming is its low-impact nature. The buoyancy of water reduces stress on joints and bones, making it an ideal activity for growing bodies. This allows children to build strength and endurance without the risk of injury associated with high-impact sports. As a result, they can continue to participate in other sports with reduced chances of overuse injuries.
7. Foundation for Lifelong Fitness
Swimming is a skill that children can carry with them throughout their lives. Unlike some sports that may be more difficult to continue into adulthood, swimming is a low-impact exercise that people of all ages can enjoy. By learning to swim, children not only gain a foundation for other sports but also develop a lifelong habit of staying active and healthy.
8. Safety and Confidence Around Water
Lastly, swimming is an essential life skill that provides safety and confidence around water. Whether your child goes on to play water polo, surf, or simply enjoys recreational activities at the beach or pool, the ability to swim is invaluable. This confidence in the water can also encourage them to try other water-based sports or activities, further expanding their athletic horizons.
Conclusion
Swimming is more than just a fun and healthy activity; it’s a comprehensive base sport that enhances physical and mental abilities, making it the perfect foundation for any other sport your child may choose to pursue. By developing strength, endurance, flexibility, coordination, and mental toughness through swimming, your child will be better prepared to excel in a wide range of sports and activities. Plus, the lifelong benefits of swimming ensure that your child remains active and confident both in and out of the water.
So, whether your child dreams of becoming a soccer star, a gymnast, or simply wants to try a variety of sports, starting with swimming is one of the best decisions you can make for their athletic development.
