Few animals can instil a level of visceral fear in us quite like sharks. They rank among our planet’s most ancient creatures and have perfectly honed their predatory skills over nearly half a billion years.
The vast majority are placid, going about their business quietly and bothering no-one, but some aren’t. Some are fast, powerful and violent killing machines, but which is the world’s most dangerous shark?
Are Sharks Really Dangerous?
The simple answer to that question is ‘yes’. Sharks are dangerous in the sense that they can attack humans – though in theory the same can be said for dogs, cats or even guinea pigs.
For sharks however, we live in a world where pop culture has offered a rather unflattering portrayal of them over the years, no more so than the classic movie Jaws – perhaps the scariest shark in the world – even though it was made of latex and rubber!
That said, of the more than 500 species of them in the sea, with a range of shark sizes from the massive to the very smallest sharks and only a tiny minority have ever bitten humans. Statistically speaking, you’re about as likely to be killed by a vending machine as you are by a shark.
The International Shark Attack File
Bull Shark feasting (Photography by Reinhard Dirscherl via Getty Images)
The ISAF is the world’s most authoritative database of global shark attacks. They report around 70 – 100 shark attacks every year with approximately five deaths, although almost certainly dozens more attacks go unreported.
In addition, determining the world’s deadliest shark is not an exact science since it can often be difficult to be certain of the details of any given attack. Added to this lack of certainty, groups such as requiem sharks look so similar that even experts find it hard to tell them apart – leading to a further lack of solid facts in regard to shark attacks.
In 2020, the ISAF recorded 57 unprovoked shark bites worldwide, with 10 deaths. Six in Australia, three in the USA and one in St Martin in the Caribbean Sea.
What is the World's Most Dangerous Shark?
Underwater view of shortfin mako shark (Photography by Richard Robinson via Getty Images)
According to the ISAF there have been 898 attacks by confirmed shark species (774 non-fatal unprovoked, 124 fatal, unprovoked).
Towards the bottom of the list with one or two non-fatal attacks we find sharks like the porbeagle, leopard, silky and the guitarfish. Further up the list with a handful or more attacks include the spotted wobbegong, cookiecutter, Caribbean reef, lemon and blacktip reef and then we move into the realms of the top 10 most lethal sharks:
- Dusky shark | attacks: 1, fatalities: 1
- Galapagos shark | attacks: 1, fatalities: 1
- Grey reef shark | attacks: 8, fatalities: 1
- Shortfin mako shark | attacks: 8, fatalities: 1
- Bronze whaler shark | attacks: 14, fatalities: 1
- Oceanic whitetip shark | attacks: 12, fatalities: 3
- Blue shark | attacks: 9, fatalities: 4
- Bull shark | attacks: 92, fatalities: 25
The third most dangerous shark in the world is the bull shark. Weight for weight the highest bite force of all cartilaginous fish, the bull shark is an aggressive, stocky shark that can grow to 3.5m and weigh upwards of 350kg. They are diadromous, which means they can switch between salt and freshwater, are extremely territorial and have no tolerance for provocation. It’s often told (and debated endlessly by scientists) that the bull shark was responsible for the famous Jersey Shore attacks in 1916 that killed four people and was subsequently the inspiration for Peter Benchley’s novel Jaws.
- Tiger shark | attacks: 97, fatalities: 34
The second most dangerous shark in the world is the tiger shark. Named for its distinctive stripes, the tiger shark is a solitary, nocturnal predator which can grow to over five metres and will eat almost literally anything (including on rare occasions flying foxes, car tyres, oil cans and baseballs). They like to roam around in warm, coastal waters, shallow reefs and even canals, which creates increased potential for human interaction and are second only to the world’s deadliest shark.
- Great white shark | attacks: 290, fatalities: 52
And in first place, the world’s most dangerous shark is – of course – the great white shark. Without question or rival the scariest shark in the world. Mere mention of it’s name is enough to clear a beach. It is the king of the apex predators and one of Earth’s most efficient killing machines. It has no known natural predators, it can grow to over six metres and is responsible for more human bites than any other shark in the ocean. Ironically of course, humans aren’t in the great white shark’s food chain. They evolved tens of millions of years before we did and it’s believed that most bites are cases of mistaken identity, confusing humans for seals.
And Finally
There is more to love about the underwater world than to fear but whether a great white or a goblin shark, frilled shark or grey reef shark, all sharks are creatures to respect, especially if you’re in their realm. And remember, you’re more likely to get hit on the head by a falling coconut than bitten by a shark.
