DHAKA, Bangladesh - Bangladesh has the world's highest child drowning rate.
Drowning is the third leading cause of death among children in Bangladesh, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Drowning was the leading cause of death among children aged 1-17 years in Bangladesh, according to the Bangladesh Health and Injury Survey (BHIS-2016), with approximately 14,438 children dying each year.
Children aged 1-4 had the highest mortality rate, with more than half of the deaths occurring before the victims' third birthday.
According to the Department of Health, drowning now claims the lives of 20,685 people each year, including 18,000 children under 18. In the country, 50 children drown every day.
Children drown mainly when they play outside near the ponds or go swimming unattended by adults.
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