Drownings in the EU rose in 2021 compared to 2020, with Cyprus being among three countries to record a decrease, from 14 to nine, according to data published by Eurostat.
In 2021, there were 5,004 deaths by drowning and submersion in the EU, 532 more than in 2020 with 4,472.
The share of drownings and submersion fatalities out of all accidental deaths also rose slightly from 2.9 per cent in 2020 to 3.1 per cent in 2021.
However, this share was considerably lower than the 4.2 per cent recorded in 2011, reflecting an almost steady decrease over the past ten years.
In Cyprus in 2011 there had been seven recorded drownings, with the number rising in 2014 to 15 and in 2018 to 16.
In 2021, among EU countries, the highest number of drowning and submersion deaths was reported in Romania with 1,033, 21 per cent of all drowning fatalities in the EU.
France with 653, Poland with 466 and Germany with 457 followed at a distance.
The lowest numbers were recorded in Luxembourg with one, Malta three and Cyprus nine.
In 2021, drowning deaths among males were more than twice as high as those among females in nearly all EU countries.
The only exceptions were Austria with 33 males and 19 females and Malta with one male and two females.
