Glossary
World Drowning Prevention Day
25 July, named by the UN General Assembly in 2021 to raise awareness that drowning is preventable.
World Drowning Prevention Day is held every year on 25 July. The UN General Assembly adopted its first-ever resolution on drowning prevention in April 2021, and in it named 25 July as World Drowning Prevention Day, according to the World Health Organization (opens in a new tab).
Why a global day: WHO says around 300,000 people die from drowning worldwide each year, and 92% of those deaths happen in low- and middle-income countries. Children under 5 make up nearly a quarter of drowning deaths. The global drowning death rate has fallen 38% since 2000, which shows that prevention works.
In July 2026, WHO used the day to launch a package of seven proven strategies (opens in a new tab) for governments and communities, ranging from safer water infrastructure and rescue skills to swim education, child care and flood preparedness. WHO also estimates that day care for preschool children and basic swim skills for children could prevent 774,000 child drowning deaths by 2050.
Ways to take part: share a sourced fact or infographic, teach a lesson, host a workshop or sign your family up for swim lessons. See World Drowning Prevention Day and how to take part and how to host a workshop.
What you can do today: put 25 July on your calendar and plan one small action for it.