Fact check: 43% of men and 68% of women globally cannot swim unassisted

1. Summary of the results

The original statement appears to be accurate according to comprehensive global data. The Lloyd's Register Foundation World Risk Poll, based on 150,000 interviews across 142 countries in 2019, confirms that exactly 43% of men and 68% of women globally cannot swim unassisted ^[1]. This is supported by Gallup World Poll data showing that 57% of men and 32% of women can swim, which inversely confirms the original percentages ^[1].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement omits several crucial contextual factors:

• Regional Variations: The gender gap in swimming ability varies significantly by region, with the largest disparity (48 percentage points) in Central Asia and the smallest (4 percentage points) in Northern and Western Europe ^[1].
• Economic Factors: There is a strong correlation between swimming ability and economic status:

Swimming ability disproportionately favors upper-class populations ^[2]

Low-income countries show the lowest swimming proficiency rates ^[1]

Men are more likely to swim in higher-income countries ^[3]

Overall Population Statistics: Globally, only 44% of adults and adolescents can swim unassisted ^[3], highlighting that this is not just a gender issue but a broader public health and safety concern.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

While the statement is technically accurate, it presents the data without important context, which could lead to incomplete understanding:

• By focusing solely on the gender gap, it overlooks the socioeconomic factors that contribute to these disparities
• The statement doesn't acknowledge the significant regional variations, which could make it misleading when applied to specific countries or regions
• Organizations focused on water safety and swimming education could benefit from highlighting these disparities to secure funding and support
• The presentation of global statistics without context might oversimplify a complex issue that varies significantly by region and economic status