The United Nations is aiming to reduce the number of people drowning each year by passing a new resolution encouraging countries to teach children to swim and improve flood management. 

The resolution is "giving drowning its due recognition, commensurate with the impact it has on families and communities around the world," said Etienne Krug, director of the Department of Social Determinants of Health at the World Health Organization. 

The UN estimated there are 250,000 deaths from drowning each year, although because some drowning deaths are recorded differently in the case of a natural disaster, it said the true figure could be much higher. 

It's clear that drowning is a leading cause of death for those aged between five and 14, especially in poorer countries. And climate change is causing worse flooding in already badly-affected areas of the world, the UN warned. 

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What is recommended? 

- Installing barriers controlling access to water

- Providing safe places away from water such as crèches for pre-school children with capable childcare

- Teaching swimming, water safety and safe rescue skills

- Train bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation

- Set and enforce safe boating, shipping and ferry regulations

- Improve flood risk management

Is drowning a leading cause of death in Europe?

Generally no, but there are some countries with much higher rates of drowning than others. 

Looking at the deaths per million in 2018 (the latest year for which full data is available), Baltic neighbors Latvia and Lithuania have a significantly higher rate of drowning as a cause of death than other nations. 

Although all the nations in Europe's top five have coastlines, the UN research showed the majority of drownings happen in rivers, lakes and domestic swimming pools, so that's a coincidence, not a cause. 

At the other end of the tally, these five nations have the fewest drownings per million (again in 2018). 

This list shows more Western European nations, and is arguably supporting evidence for the UN finding that most drownings occur in "low- and middle-income countries."