More than 15% of Americans don’t know how to swim, new study shows. What about California?
Nearly one in 11 adult Californians do not know how to swim, according to a recent study.
California, which shares a coastline with the Pacific Ocean, boasts more than 3,000 lakes and a high pool-to-people ratio — 29 people for every swimming pool.
The Golden State landed on Poolonomics’ list of the top three states with the “lowest percentage of non-swimmers.”
Poolonomics, launched in 2017, is a team of swimming pool and hot tub experts who publish pool and spa care tips.
New Jersey led the pack, with 8.6% of adults unable to swim. That’s lower than any other state and nearly half of the national average of 16.3%, the swimming pool company said.
California took the second spot with 10.9%, followed by Florida in third place with 11.1%.
“State variations call for localized interventions, such as subsidized swimming lessons or infrastructure improvements in areas with higher non-swimmer rates,” researchers wrote in an article titled “2024 Survey: 16.3% of American Adults Don’t Know How to Swim.”
“These efforts will require a deep understanding of local socio-economic conditions and geographical accessibility.”
Which state has the most swimmers?
That title is reserved for New Jersey, though the study reveals little correlation between proximity to water and a higher swimming proficiency.
Maine and Alaska, home to two of the nation’s longest coastlines, have some of the highest percentages of non-swimmers.
Researchers added that societal rules, educational opportunities and public water safety policies must be further explored to draw a comprehensive conclusion.
What are the top 10 states with the most swimmers in the US?
These states were among the top 10 places with the most swimmers, according to Poolonomics:
New Jersey
California
Florida
Connecticut
Massachusetts
Michigan
Arizona
Ohio
Nevada
Rhode Island
Swimming disparity between genders
Men swim better than women, according to the study.
Adults who identified as non-swimmers ranged from 8.6% to 25%, with a national average of 16.3%.
In total, 61.8% were women and 38.2% were men.
How did Poolonomics come up with its rankings?
Poolonomics asked 3,000 American adults, ages 18 and up, across all 50 states the same question: “Can you swim?”
The swimming pool company used a two-step process based on age and geography. Internal data sources were used to gather population data sets to generate percentages.
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