Men are 6 times more likely to be struck by lightning than women!
Men Are 6X More Likely to Get Struck by Lightning
When it comes to lightning strikes, men aren't just unlucky—they're dramatically more vulnerable. According to CDC data, men are struck by lightning roughly six times more often than women. Between 1968 and 2010, 85% of all lightning fatalities in the United States were male.
That's not a typo. Out of 3,389 people killed by lightning over that period, only 15% were women.
It's Not Biology, It's Behavior
Before anyone blames testosterone or male physiology, researchers have found the real culprit: what men are doing when storms roll in. The National Weather Service analyzed lightning deaths from 2006 to 2016 and discovered that men made up 79% of victims—but the locations tell the real story.
More than 90% of male lightning victims were engaged in outdoor recreational activities at the time they were struck. The deadliest activities include:
- Fishing (the number one lightning-related killer)
- Camping and hiking
- Boating
- Golf
- Soccer, football, and baseball
Men also dominate outdoor occupations like construction, farming, and utilities work, increasing their exposure during working hours.
The Risk-Taking Gap
But it's not just about where men are—it's about how they respond to danger. Studies show men are significantly less likely to seek shelter when they hear thunder or see dark clouds approaching. They're more prone to "wait it out" or assume they can finish their activity before the storm arrives.
Women, on the other hand, tend to react more quickly to weather warnings and are more likely to head indoors at the first sign of a storm. It's a small behavioral difference with life-or-death consequences.
The "It Won't Happen to Me" Factor
Experts point to a pattern of risk underestimation among men. Whether it's continuing to fish as clouds gather, finishing the last hole of golf, or staying on a soccer field during distant thunder, men consistently delay taking cover. Lightning can strike from up to 10 miles away from rainfall—but most people don't seek shelter until the storm is directly overhead.
The bottom line? Lightning doesn't discriminate based on gender. But human behavior does. And in this case, that behavior is getting a lot more men killed.