U.S. tops list for most shark attacks worldwide in the past year

The two shark attacks in North Carolina has beachgoers all over the country asking "is it safe to go in the water?" But given the millions of people that head to the beach each summer, shark attacks are relatively rare. In 2014, there were 72 unprovoked shark attacks worldwide.

The number of unprovoked attacks, defined by the International Shark Attack File as attacks that occurred in the shark's natural habitat without human provocation, is down from 2013, when there were 75 attacks.

The United States had the most attacks in 2014. There were 52 attacks, with over half taking place in Florida. There were 28 incidents in Florida, followed by seven in Hawaii, five in South Carolina and four each in North Carolina and California.

In other parts of the world, there were 11 attacks in Australia and two in South Africa. Two of the three fatal attacks from 2014 occurred in Australia, the other was in South Africa.

While the number of shark attacks was down in 2014 from the previous year, the number of unprovoked attack has been growing steadily since 1900, according to the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History.

The International Shark Attack File recommends a "proactive" response for anyone who finds himself being attacked by a shark. Hitting the shark on the nose or clawing at its gills and eyes should at least temporarily curtail the attack.

2014 Unprovoked Shark Attacks

• Florida: 28
• Australia: 11
• Hawaii: 7
• South Carolina: 5
• North Carolina: 4
• California: 4
• South Africa: 2
• Delaware: 1
• Georgia: 1
• Louisiana: 1
• Texas: 1
• Reunion: 1
• Japan: 1
• Spain: 1
• New Zealand: 1
• French Polynesia: 1
• New Caledonia: 1
• Galapagos Islands: 1