Headlines - Swimming ability reported by 15- to 75-year-olds in mainland France

In France, drowning accounts for nearly 500 accidental deaths each summer and, in some cases, leads to serious long-term consequences. The majority of these incidents occur while swimming, making the ability to swim a key factor in preventing drowning. An article in the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin presents an estimate of the percentage of 15- to 75-year-olds in mainland France who report knowing how to swim, based on the 2010 and 2016 Health Barometer surveys. These multi-topic surveys are conducted by telephone with a representative sample of the population aged 15–75 residing in mainland France and speaking French. Factors influencing swimming ability were also analyzed.

The Baromètre Santé surveys show that 83.7% of respondents reported knowing how to swim in 2016, compared to 81.3% in 2010. This overall increase of 1.5 percentage points is significant. Men were more likely to be able to swim than women in 2010 (87.7% vs. 75.2%) and in 2016 (89.2% vs. 78.3%), across all age groups. Younger respondents were more likely to report knowing how to swim than their elders (in 2016, 94.8% among 15-24-year-olds vs. 64.7% among 65-75-year-olds).

The factors associated with the ability to swim are primarily socioeconomic: holding a degree beyond the high school diploma, being employed, belonging to a high or middle socio-professional category, and having a high income. Other factors promoting the ability to swim include good mental health, not living alone, and not being overweight or obese. There are regional disparities in swimming ability [ranging from 75.7% in Hauts-de-France to 89.2% in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Corsica]. In Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, the percentage is 80% (2010 and 2016 data).

The results of the 2010 and 2016 Health Barometers make it possible for the first time to assess the swimming ability of 15- to 75-year-olds living in metropolitan France. More than one in seven French people report not knowing how to swim. The younger the age group, the higher the proportion of people who can swim. Swimming instruction beginning in the 1960s, particularly in schools, is likely responsible for the improvement in the population’s swimming ability, especially among women. However, many people aged 55–75 still cannot swim, and it is primarily these age groups that are affected by drowning. Learning to swim, a key factor in preventing drowning, can be done at any age.