HealthPublished: 16 June 2026 at 14:20
Latvia records highest male drowning rate in EU; alcohol often a factor
According to Eurostat data for 2022, Latvia had the highest drowning mortality rate among men in the European Union – 8.3 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. Swimming instructor Inga Amerika says most victims are men aged 35–50, and accidents frequently involve alcohol.
The latest Eurostat figures for 2022 show that Latvia has the highest male drowning mortality rate in the European Union, at 8.3 deaths per 100,000 population.
Former Latvian swimming champion and now instructor Inga Amerika told the program “Sporta Studija” that the most common drowning victims are men between the ages of 35 and 50. She emphasized that alcohol consumption is often involved in these tragedies, and that drinking and water recreation do not mix.
