In 2014, 392 people died from drowning in German waters, 54 less than the year before. More than half of the drownings occurred during the summer months from June to August. 197 men, women and children lost their lives at coastal and inland waters. 95 victims were recorded in the month of July alone.
78% died in inland waters, 150 people lost their lives in rivers, 137 people drowned in lakes and 20 people in canals. 34 people died in the waves of the North and Baltic Sea. With 8.7%, the number of drownings in the sea is significantly above the figures of the previous years. 26 victims drowned in the Baltic Sea alone. The main reasons were strong winds from east and north-east which caused dangerous rips and undertows and put many swimmers in danger of life. Predominantly the Baltic Sea coasts of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania and Schleswig-Holstein were affected by these extraordinary wind directions that led to many incidents. The DLRG lifeguards saved many people from life-threatening situations in the last minute and thus prevented further deaths from drowning. DLRG will start an information campaign at the beginning of the summer holiday season, with the aim of preparing tourists and bathing guests better for their bathing holidays and the dangers at the sea. This initiative will include a special DLRG app, leaflets distributed at all locations along the coast and additional instructions for a safe bathing pleasure.

14 people drowned in public swimming pools and five people died in private garden ponds or pools. All five victims were small children aged between two and four years.

Older people are often victims of drowning incidents. 53.4% of the drowning deaths occurred in men and women over the age of 50. 30 people in the age group between 76 and 80 years lost their lives in the water. 29 people died in each of the age groups 51 to 55 and 56 to 60. 25 victims were even between 81 and 90 years old. In contrast, less deaths occurred among children and young people: In 2013, 34 children and young people up to 15 years had died, but only 20 in the past year. This is the second lowest figure after 2012.

Men are still significantly more often affected by drowning than women. 20% of the victims were women, 80% were men.

In 2014, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg recorded the highest numbers of drowning deaths. Similar to the previous years, Bavaria was the Federal State with the highest death figures, i. e. 79 deaths from drowning, followed by Baden-Württemberg with 52 drowning deaths, North Rhine-Westphalia (49) and Lower Saxony (47). Mecklenburg-West Pomerania with 28 deaths from drowning was ranked 13. Schleswig Holstein, with 26 drowning deaths, was ranked 12. These two Länder were particularly affected by the weather conditions in July. The lowest numbers of victims were recorded in Saarland (2) and Thuringia (3).

As far as the drowning rates per 100,000 population are concerned, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, with a rate of 1.75, is in the last rank among the German Länder, followed at a large distance by Saxony-Anhalt with a rate of 1.02 or 23 drowning deaths. Schleswig-Holstein recorded the third highest number with a rate of 0.93 per 100,000 population.

In an international comparison, the Federal Republic of Germany is again in a leading position, with a rate of 0.49 per 100,000 population. An east-west comparison results in the following picture: 90 people died in eastern German waters, 302 people in western Germany. In relative figures, the ratio was 23 to 77 per cent. In 2013, the ratio had been 26,2 to 73.8%. Thus in 2014, less people drowned in eastern German waters.