Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and trend of drowning death in residents in Ningbo of Zhejiang province from 2002 to 2021.

Methods The drowning death data in registered residents in Ningbo from 2002 to 2021 were collected from the Chronic Disease Surveillance Management System of Zhejiang Province for a descriptive analysis on drowning death. The mortality rate of drowning was standardized based on the population data of the sixth national census in China in 2010, and the annual percentage change (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC) were calculated by fitting a linear regression to determine its changing trend.

Results A total of 5190 drowning deaths were reported in residents in Ningbo from 2002 to 2021, with an average annual crude mortality rate of drowning as 4.50/100 000. The average crude mortality rate of drowning was 5.28/100,000 in men and 3.71/100 000 in women. Over the past 20 years, the standardized mortality rate of drowning showed a decreasing trend year by year (AAPC=−5.02%, P<0.001) and the AAPC of the standardized drowning mortality rate in men was −5.37% (P<0.001), higher than −3.14% in women (P=0.019). The drowning deaths in age groups 0−14, 15−59 and >60 years accounted for 17.94%, 35.34% and 46.72% of the total, and the mortality rate of drowning in the three age groups showed downward trends year by year, (AAPC=−12.64%, −1.76%, −3.08%; t=−18.525, −4.497, −7.155, all P<0.001). The highest number of drowning deaths were recorded in July (780 deaths, 15.03%), followed by August (708 deaths 13.64%), June (472 deaths, 9.09%) and September (415 deaths, 8.00%). Up to 85.82% of the drowning deaths occurred in natural waters and 13.06% in other locations (reservoirs, drains, etc.).

Conclusion The incidence of drowning deaths in residents in Ningbo showed a decreasing trend from 2002 to 2021, and targeted intervention measures should be taken according to the epidemiological characteristics of drowning death.