The claim that you are 10 times more likely to be bitten by a New Yorker than by a shark is an example of how statistics can be used humorously to highlight the relative rarity of shark attacks. Here is a more detailed look at the basis for this comparison:

• According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), the number of unprovoked shark bites worldwide is relatively low. For example, in 2020, there were 57 confirmed unprovoked shark bites globally, with 10 of them being fatal.

• The likelihood of an individual being bitten by a shark is extremely low, estimated at about 1 in 11.5 million.

• One oft-cited statistic (though more anecdotal than rigorously researched) suggests that New York City emergency rooms report around 1,600 human bites annually. This number is used to illustrate the higher probability of human bites compared to shark bites.