South-East Asia regional status report on drowning 2025

Drowning continues to claim tens of thousands of lives every year across the WHO SE Asia Region. The estimated death toll of 83 000 people in this Region is not just a number, but a reminder of stories of lives cut short, and families devastated. The 

report serves as both an urgent call to this issue and a roadmap to take actions to 

reduce drowning over the upcoming years. 

It also highlights unprecedented opportunities for collaborative action. By scaling up evidence-based interventions, sustained investment and commitment from governments and the community, the WHO SE Asia Region can lead the way in 

transforming drowning from a silent epidemic into a public health success story.