4,409 swimming pools in the UK

According to the WIRH database, in 2023 those 3,256 pool sites in the UK contained 4,409 swimming pools

3,256 pool sites in the UK

In 2023 there were 3,256 swimming pool sites that permit use by the public in the UK

Forty-six 50-metre pools in the UK

In 2023, there were forty-six 50-metre swimming pools, making up 1% of pools in the UK

35% of pools are 25 metres+

In 2023, 1,571 pools (35%) were 25 metres in length or greater.

The Highlands had the most pools

In 2023, The Highlands had a population of 26,830 and fourteen swimming pools; a density of 5.22 per 10,000 people

Dyfed had the fewest pools

In 2023, Dyfed had a population of 390,000 and just two swimming pools; a density of 0.05 per 10,000 people

881,783m² of pool space

In 2023, the UK WIRH register of swimming pools which captures the dimensions of all 4,409 public pools in the UK estimated that:

• The total pool water surface area of all public swimming pools to be 881,783m²
• The total diving pool area to be 12,841m²
• The total pool area in leisure centres to be 474,743m²

Over 1 billion kWh of electricity

In 2023, the UK WIRH register of swimming pools which captures the dimensions of all 4,409 public pools in the UK estimated that:

• Electricity usage of 1,058,139,215 kWh based on a 1,200 kWh per square metre
• The cost is £201 million annually based on a price of £0.19 per kWh 
• Emissions are 204,221 tCO2e annually based on 0.000193 tCO2e per kWh of electricity consumed

Over 3.3 billion kWh of gas

In 2023, the UK WIRH register of swimming pools which captures the dimensions of all 4,409 public pools in the UK, estimated that:

• Gas usage of 3,703,487,251 kWh based on a 3,600 kWh per square metre
• The cost is £333 million annually based on a price of £0.09 per kWh 
• Emissions are 714,773 tCO2e annually based on 0.000193 tCO2e per kWh

1.3% of water fatalities occurred in swimming pools

There were 21 pool fatalities out of a total of 1,616 accidental water incident fatalities between 2015-2020 in the UK.

89% less likely to be reported by the media if non-fatal

In a sample of 113 UK pool incidents, 22 (19%) were non-fatal, and 91 (81%) were fatal.  

2.6x more likely to involve a male than a female pool user

In a sample of 113 UK incidents, 82 (72%) injured persons were male and 31 (28%) female. 

60% of incidents occurred with less than 30 people in the water

56 of 92 incidents (60%) occurred with less than 30 people in the water. 

79% of incidents occurred in large pools

63 of 104 incidents (60%) occurred in pools with a surface area greater than 225m².

51% were directly supervised by an adult

In a sample of 105 incidents, 54 were under 8 years, 17 were between 8-12 years, 34 were 13 years and above. 

2.6x safer to take part in a programmed session 

60 of 86 incidents (69%) occurred in unprogrammed sessions. 26 of 86 incidents (30%) occurred in programmed sessions. 

74% reduction in the amount paid by sector operators in criminal fines

In a sample of 107 incidents, £2.7m was paid in fines based on 33 convictions between 2000-09 vs. £0.7m based on 48 convictions 2010-19. 

83% of under 8s were directly supervised by an adult and a professional lifeguard when they were in danger

In a sample of 24 incidents, 20 were directly supervised by an adult and a professional lifeguard.  

2.1x more likely for a non-swimmer to be involved in a water incident in a swimming pool

73 of 111 (65%) incidents in pools involved non-swimmers. 110 of 332 incidents (33%) in inland water involved non-swimmers. 

1.4x more likely to drown in a pool without constant lifeguard supervision

In a sample 87 incidents, 51 incidents had no constant poolside supervision vs. 36 which had constant poolside supervision. 16 of 19 (84%) of non-fatal drownings occurred in pools with constant poolside supervision. 

46% of incidents experienced a delay between identification and detection

There was no delay between the identification of a person in danger and the initiation of a rescue in 26 (54%) incidents. In 15 (31%) incidents, delay was due to lifeguard distraction. In 7 (15%) incidents, delay was due to a lack of understanding of the signs of danger.