Flying is the safest way to travel, but that doesn’t mean no one is afraid of flying. In fact, it’s normal to be afraid of flying. The idea of being at the mercy of a machine that could malfunction and send you hurtling toward the ground can make anyone nervous.

Here’s the thing: You’re not alone.

Everyone has fears, and flying is one of them. But there are things you can do to feel more at ease, like checking out our list of Fear of Flying Statistics, which we’ve compiled from a variety of sources.

So take a deep breath and give it a read! You’ll be surprised by how many things you can do to make your trip go smoother, and you might even learn some new facts about flying that will make your next trip even more exciting than before.

But here’s the thing: flying isn’t actually as scary as it seems. Here are the latest fear of flying statistics that might help you feel better about your next trip (or just make you feel less alone).

General Fear of Flying Statistics

1. More than 25 million adults in the U.S. suffer from some level of aviophobia (fear of flying)

(Cleveland Clinic)

Well, it’s true. The number of Americans who suffer from aviophobia (fear of flying) is more than 25 million and growing. For most, it’s a minor fear, but for others, it can be debilitating. 

For some people, flying is one of those things that just comes with territory. You have to do it, so you get on the plane, and then you’re off to your destination! But for many others, flying is a source of real anxiety and fear—which can make traveling difficult or even impossible.

If you’ve ever had a friend or family member who’s afraid to fly, you know that this fear can be crippling. It can keep them from going on vacation or visiting loved ones, and it can even prevent them from getting their dream job. And it can be incredibly frustrating for everyone else who has to listen to their worries about flying every time they’re ready to travel somewhere new.

The good news is that there are many ways to cope with aviophobia. You can get professional help or try out some self-help techniques on your own. Either way, it’s important to find the right method for you so you can start feeling more comfortable when you fly.

2. Between 33% and 40% of people have some anxiety about flying

(Washington Post, SagePub)

While not all people with concerns about flying would define themselves as suffering from “aviophobia”, between 33 and 40% of the population experience some form of anxiety when approaching a flight. This anxiety could be a slight feeling of nerves about a flight and may expand all the way to full-blown terror.

Around 60% of the population on average experience “generalized” anxiety both leading up to the flight and during the journey which they feel they can manage alone. Alternatively, between 2.5% to 5% of the population have crippling anxiety to the point of phobia.

3. 2.6% to 6.5% of people suffer from a fear of flying severe enough to be classified as a phobia

(TIME)

A report from TIME magazine reviewing various studies and reviews into the prevalence of aviophobia found fear of flying is one of the more common phobias.

Though some people only suffer from basic concerns, around 2.5% to 6.5% of travelers suffer from a fear significant enough to qualify for a clinical phobia diagnosis.

4. Refusal to fly decreased from 5% to 0.5% between 1986 and 2015

(Pubmed)

Research into the prevalence of flying phobias and common issues with flying is limited. However, many reports suggest fear of flying is one of the most common phobias, despite the fact that flight traffic has increased over the years. One report found that though fear of flying is still significant, it may be decreasing over time.

Between the years of 1986 and 2015, the percentage of people refusing to fly as a result of flying phobias decreased from around 5% to 0.5%.

The research also found there were around 11% of people who claimed to always use alcohol in 19865 when getting on a plane, compared to only 7.5% in 2015.

5. Between 2.5% and 40% of people experience flying anxiety each year

(Frontiers in Psychology)

A review posted by Frontiers in Psychology by the School of Behavioral, Cognitive, and Social Psychology highlights that the fear of flying and the anxiety caused by aviation is still not fully understood. According to the researchers, anywhere between 2.5% and 40% of people suffer from anxiety caused by aviation.

However, the reason for the broad range for the statistic is that it’s difficult to know for certain how many people suffer from fear of flying. Only a handful of people are officially diagnosed with a phobia, while countless people could suffer from some form of anxiety.

6. Triggers like bad weather and turbulence are most likely to make flying anxiety worse

(Frontiers in Psychology)

In the Frontiers in Psychology report published by Gavin I Clark and Adam J. Rock, the researchers note that certain situations and stimuli can make fear of anxiety feel more profound in those with a phobia or anxiety. The most common triggers for worsening anxiety are bad weather and the initial experience of take-off.

Many people suffering from fear of flying also suffer from additional anxiety during turbulence and can feel their anxiety worsen when they’re flying at popular times (during crowds), or dealing with delays in their schedule.

7. 20% of the population depends on alcohol or anxiolytics to fly

(BMC Psychiatry)

A report published in BMC Psychiatry into potential treatment options for the fear of flying found that approximately 20% of the population are dependent on alcohol or anxiolytics to fly. What’s more, around a quarter of the population will suffer from general anxiety when taking a flight, and another 10% avoid flying entirely due to their concerns.

The report further found that up to 7% of the population with a flight phobia experience acute interferences in their social life and everyday life as a result of their phobia. However, only around 7.8% of people with phobias seek help.

8. 90% of people with flight phobias believe they’ll be overwhelmed by fear during a flight

(ADAA)

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) published a report highlighting important facts about the fear of flying. According to this report, most people with a phobia of flying believe that air travel is safe, but they’re still extremely afraid to do it.

The report notes that around 90% of people with a flight phobia believe they’ll be overwhelmed with fear or anxiety during the flight, with no method of escape.

9. Approximately 21 million Britons have a fear of flying

(National Geographic)

According to a study by the National Geographic Channel, 21 million Britons currently suffer from a fear of flying.

That’s about 32% of the population, which is a huge number!

But there are a LOT of reasons why people fear flying. Some people have had bad experiences in the air, while others have just never flown before and don’t know what to expect. Some people are scared of heights, while others are concerned with safety or security issues.

Aviophobia Demographic Statistics

10. Most people have their first fear of flying “attack” at the age of 27

(HTH Travel Insurance and Anxieties.com)

According to HTH Travel Insurance, reporting on a psychologist from anxieties.com, the average age people experience an onset of fearful flying is around 27 years. Fearful flyers also report that their anxiety often develops after the birth of a child.

In some cases, other people develop their fear after a bad experience on a previous flight, or as a reaction to negative stories about flying told by other people.

Some people also experience phobias about flying as a result of an increase in general stress. If your general exposure to anxiety increases, you may find you’re more nervous on flights too.

11. Many people develop fears of flying between the age of 17 and 34

(ADAA)

A report from the ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America), found most people experience “panic” during a flight between the ages of 17 and 34.

According to the report, after feeling an unexpected fear when flying, a person is more likely to develop anxiety about feeling that fear and the accompanying symptoms again.

Notably, the ADAA says that panics often emerge during flights as a result of other occurrences, such as a birth or death in the family, or a change in circumstances, like a marriage or divorce. The ADAA notes very few fears will start with a traumatic flight.

12. 33% of the population are “slightly uncomfortable” about flying and women are more likely to be afraid than men.

(YouGov America)

A report published by YouGov America found some interesting information about the fear of flying in the modern world. According to the report, 33% of people feel slightly uncomfortable flying in a plane, while 16% would consider themselves to be genuinely afraid.

In the report, more women (38%) were likely to be afraid of flying than men (28%), and it was also more common for people over the age of 65 (41%) to express they had a phobia. Around half of Americans said they had absolutely no concerns about flying.

13. 20% of the population experience issues with work and life due to fear of flying

(ADAA)

According to an expert report from the ADAA on the fear of flying, anxiety about flying is quite common, but it doesn’t interfere with most people in their day-to-day lives. However, for around 20% of the population, anxiety or phobia can become detrimental.

These people suggest that their fear often interferes with their social lives, and their careers, because they begin to avoid vacations and job promotions as a result of trying to stay away from flights.

14. The majority of fearful flyers hate being out of control

(TPG)

The TPG Lounge posted a poll on its Facebook group about the most common reasons people feel fear of flying, or anxiety about getting on a flight. The top-scoring stressor in the poll was a lack of control when being in the air, and not being able to manage the movement of the aircraft.

The second most common stressor chosen by respondents to the poll was the risk of dying or injury, while the third most common concern was the risk of being exposed to germs on a flight. Notably, the company believes the number of fears surrounding germs on a plane has increased significantly since the rise of the pandemic in 2020.

15. Older people believe it’s safer to fly than drive

(YouGov America)

According to a study by YouGov America, around 47% of people believe it’s safer to fly to your destination than drive a long distance. This is a fact other statistics throughout the years have backed up. According to some reports, you can be up to 72% times more likely to die when in a car than on a plane. However, 16% of Americans still feel safer driving.

Notably, while people over the age of 65 in this report were more likely to say they were afraid of flying, they were also more likely to say it was safer to fly than drive (56%). Females in the study were less likely to say flying was safer (40%).

Flight Safety Statistics

16. Only 7 airline accidents were fatal in 2021

(IATA)

Opposing the fears many people have about flying in general, the International Air Travel Authority regularly posts documents highlighting the increasing safety of air travel. In the 58^th edition of the “Annual Safety Report”, which was published in 2021, only 7 fatal accidents happened in the industry throughout 2021.

Additionally, IATA member airline’s accident rate was only 0.44 per million flights, which was a massive improvement over the 5-year average of 1.23, and the 2020 rate of 1.58. The IATA also reported the number of accidents decreased from 35 in 2020 to only 26 in 2021.

17. Flight accidents have been at their lowest rate in 2021

(IATA)

Safety records for air travel have never been better!

Though the IATA annual flight safety summary found a slight increase in the number of fatal accidents between 2020 and 2021 (from 5 to 7), they also found the all-accident rate was 1.01 accidents for every million flights, which was a significant improvement over the 5-year average rate of around 1.23 per million flights.

What’s more, Airlines within the IATA registry reported zero fatal accidents in 2021. The fatality risk rate reported by the IATA (0.23) means a person would, on average, need to take to flight every day for 10,078 years to be involved in an accident with at least one fatality. The same person would need to be on a flight every day for 12,151 years to face a 100% chance of a fatal accident.

18. The number of crashes fell by more than 50% in 2020

(To70)

A study conducted by Aviation firm To70 found there were 40 issues with passenger (commercial) planes during 2020, five of these resulted in fatal outcomes. In 2019 on the other hand, there were 86 accidents in total, 8 of which had fatalities.

Per million flights in 2020, large commercial airplanes had an average of 0.27 fatal accidents per million flights. The reporters note that the number of aviation deaths and accidents, in general, has been falling dramatically over the last two decades.

In 2005, there were around 1,015 fatalities worldwide on commercial flights, highlighting a massive change in the safety of these aviation vehicles.

19. The odds of your plane crashing are one in 1.2 million

(Harvard University)

Traveling by air is one of the safest ways to get from point A to point B. The odds of your plane crashing are extremely slim.

It’s a pretty safe bet that the plane you’re on won’t crash. In fact, according to a study by Harvard University, the chances of your plane crashing are one in 1.2 million—and even then, the odds of dying are one in 11 million.

That may seem like a lot of numbers to wrap your head around, but it’s actually pretty simple—the odds are really good that you’ll make it through your next flight without incident.

In case you were wondering, your chances of dying in a car accident are one in 5,000. So while flying still has its risks—and they’re not insignificant—it’s actually pretty safe!

Fear of Flying Treatment Statistics

20. 93% of VRE and SE Therapy patients start flying after treatment

(Pubmed)

A report on the use of virtual reality exposure therapy and standard exposure therapy for the treatment of flying phobias found the use of exposure therapy can be significantly beneficial to patients. After treatment of 8 sessions over 6 weeks, and 4 sessions of anxiety management, the report found that 93% of people who experience virtual reality exposure got on a plane.

Additionally, another 93% of the patients in the Standard Exposure treatment group had already gotten on a plane within 6 months of the treatment.

21. The most common treatment for fear of flying is cognitive behavioral therapy

(Frontiers in Psychology)

A report published by the Frontiers in Psychology Journal found several pharmacological treatments exist for fear of flying, including the use of anti-anxiety medications. However, according to this report, the majority of treatments used are psychological interventions.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, which involves focusing on the creation of positive associations with flying to replace negative feelings was identified as the most common treatment by the report.

However, the researchers also noted an increasing number of therapists offering exposure therapy, where the person can be exposed to the source of their fear.

Virtual reality tools have allowed for increased access to potential exposure therapy options.

Conclusion

This is the end of our journey, but we hope it’s just the start of yours. We know that flying is scary, but we also know that it can be a lot less scary if you know what to expect.

Take a moment to breathe and reflect on how much you learned through these fear of flying statistics. And then get back out there! We can’t wait to see what you do next!

Thanks for reading!

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Sources

• ADAA
• BMC Psychiatry
• Cleveland Clinic
• Frontiers in Psychology
• HTH Travel Insurance and Anxieties.com
• IATA
• Harvard University
• National Geographic
• Pubmed
• Pubmed
• Sagepub
• TIME
• To70
• TPG
• Washington Post
• YouGov America

It seems that workers have had enough when it comes to unfair working conditions and low salaries. They are not afraid to quit their jobs and seek something better. This attitude is among the leading causes that drive the Great Resignation in the United States but also worldwide.

In order to make sure you’re on top of this critical issue, we’ve compiled a list of the most significant statistics related to The Great Resignation.

Great Resignation Statistics (Editor’s Picks)

Here are our top picks regarding the Great Resignation stats and trends.

• 4.52 million American workers quit their jobs in November 2021.
• The American private sector is the most affected by the Great Resignation.
• Trade, transportation, and utilities was the sector that noted the most quits (1.01 million).
• 54.27 million Americans resigned between March 2021 and March 2022.
• The Great Resignation resulted in 11.54 million job openings in the US in March 2022.
• The quit rate in the US in March 2022 was at 3%.
• Low pay was the leading reason for quitting a job in 2021.
• Most of those who switched jobs ended up in a better position than before.
• 29% of UK employees want to change jobs in 2022.

Do you think the stats we listed above are shocking? Wait until you read the statistics and facts we have below!

Great Resignation Statistics in the United States

1. In the United States, a record-high number of quits were seen in November 2021.

The latest reports by the BLS show that in November 2021, there were a total of 6.27 million job separations. A record-breaking 4.52 million were quits. This figure shows the extremely high number of people who are voluntarily quitting their jobs.

In fact, according to the BLS figures, ever since July 2021, at least 4 million people have left their positions per month. Most quits were noted in the accommodation and food services, health care, social assistance, transportation, utilities, and warehousing.

Here are some figures to note regarding the monthly number of job quits in the United States:

As you can see, the number of American workers who quit per month has been growing. By contrast, in November 2020, this figure was 3,296,000, and in November 2019, it was 3,482,000.

However, the number of quits was low from April through May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During those months, the number of job separations and, more precisely, layoffs and discharges skyrocketed instead.

(BLS)

2. The number of American job openings in March 2022 was at an all-time high.

The BLS reports an all-time high number of job openings for March 2022 of 11.54 million. Compared to the 11.34 million positions available the previous month, this figure has increased. In March 2021, moreover, there were much fewer jobs available, i.e., 8.48 million.

These figures reveal that in only a year – from March 2021 to March 2022 – the number of job openings in the US jumped by 36%. These figures are also in line with the Great Resignation trends. As more and more people leave their positions, more and more openings need to be filled.

It’s important to note that 10.5 million of the available jobs are in the private sector, while only 1.04 million are for the government. So, in the United States at least, it seems that private companies are the ones affected by the Great Resignation the most.

(BLS)

3. In March 2022, 4.28 million workers from the private sector and 252,000 workers from the government sector left their jobs.

In March 2022, there were 6.32 million job separations, according to BLS data. Among those, nearly three-quarters, or 71.67% (4.53 million), were quits.

Among the 4.53 million Americans who left their jobs that month, 4.28 million or 94.48% were from the private sector. So, it’s definitely the private sector suffering the most from the effects of this latest trend of quitting jobs.

The BLS’s latest statistics reveal what industries have noted the highest number of resignations in March 2022.

As for industries where not that many quits were seen, here are some examples.

(BLS)

4. In the US, the South region has recorded the most quits in March 2022.

The latest BLS reports on resignations also offer insight into the number of quits by region.

In this segment, the South region leads the way with 1.92 million quits in March 2022. The West region comes next with 1.11 million resignations. Finally, the Midwest and the Northeast regions contribute the remaining quits. These two noted 894,000 and 599,000 quits, respectively.

This trend is in line with the figures from the previous months and years.

(BLS)

5. The number of job openings is driven by the number of quits in the United States.

Even with the COVID-19 pandemic put aside, the number of resignations in the US has grown year over year. BLS data from April 2017 shows 3.03 million quits for the month. Represented in a line, the upcoming months reveal an upwards trend.

By November 2018, the number had surpassed 3.5 million already. The only exception was April 2020, when there were only 2.03 million quits as the pandemic shut down entire industries. Ever since, the number of quits has been skyrocketing, it seems, reaching the latest record-high figures of over 4 million resignations a month.

All of these resignations are, naturally, driving the number of jobs in the United States. In March 2022, this figure was also at a series high at 11.55 million. By comparison, in March 2021, there were 8.48 million available positions for American workers.

As for the latest 11.54 million jobs, most of them (10.5 million) were in the private sector. Only 1.04 million positions were available in the government sector. These figures, once again, highlight the headaches the Great Resignation causes to private businesses.

(BLS)

6. More than 50 million Americans quit their jobs between March 2021 and March 2022.

Nearly 55 million Americans, or 54.27 million, have quit their job in the 12 months between March 2021 and March 2022. According to the BLS, the civilian labor force in March 2022 was 164,409 million. So, the 54.27 million workers who quit represent a third of the total American workforce.

And while the number of people who are leaving their jobs grows, the participation rate in the workforce doesn’t seem to vary all that much. In April 2021, the participation rate was 61.7%, whereas, in April 2022, it was 62.2%. In the months in between, the rate is similar and within these ranges.

(BLS)

7. The quit rate in the United States was 3% in March 2022.

In March 2021, the quit rate in the United States was at 2.6%. It has moved both up and down in the upcoming months. So, in November and December 2021, it was at 3%, while it dropped to 2.8% in January 2022. Yet, it’s started going up again in the upcoming months and reached the current 3% by March.

The country’s job openings rate in March 2022 was 7.1%, which is considerably higher than the 5.5% recorded in March 2021. The number of total separations also increased in the 12 months from 3.8% to 4.2%. The hires rate was similar in March 2021 and March 2022 at 4.3% and 4.5%.

Another rate that has significantly changed over the past 12 months is the unemployment one. Namely, in April 2021, the unemployment rate in the United States was at 6%. By April 2022, it dropped to an impressive 3.6%.

This rate shows that even though many people leave their jobs, they don’t end up unemployed. Instead, the figures suggest that workers are just switching to positions with better offers.

(BLS)

Insightful Great Resignation Stats

8. Low salary was the top reason for leaving a job in 2021.

The reputable Pew Research Center focused on the reasons why workers quit their jobs during the Great Resignation. They provided options as the “major” and “minor” reasons for handing in their resignations and a final “net” score for each.

Their data revealed that the top major reason (37%) for leaving their job was the low salary. For 26%, the low pay was a minor reason for quitting. Hence, the net score for this was 63%.

With an identical net score but different major-minor representation came in the “lack of opportunities for advancement.” Namely, for 33% of the respondents, this was a major reason to quit, while for 30%, it was a minor reason to resign.

Other major reasons for workers to voluntarily leave a job include feeling disrespected (35%), because of childcare issues (24%), not enough flexibility (24%), and lack of good benefits (23%). Workers also cited relocations (22%), working too much (20%), working too little (16%), and vaccine requirements (8%) as major resignation reasons.

(Pew Research Center)

9. Most of the workers who switched jobs tend to see improvement in their overall employment situation.

Over three-fourths of those who left jobs in 2021 and haven’t retired have found a new job already. Among those who quit, 55% were now full-time employed, and 23% were part-time employed. For nearly two-thirds (61%), finding new employment was somewhat easy, while for 33%, it was “very easy.”

Overall, those who switched jobs reported being in a better position than before. Among everyone who quit a job throughout 2021, 56% said they were making more money. Moreover, 53% have better advancement opportunities, and 53% said they could now more easily balance their work and family responsibilities. Half of those who resigned and got a new job had more flexibility, and 42% had better benefits.

With such reports, it’s expected to see the Great Resignation stay strong. As long as workers tend to find better jobs and working conditions, they will keep switching employers. Unless, of course, employers step up their game and start meeting the needs of their workforce.

(Pew Research Center)

10. Young adults are the Americans who are quitting their jobs the most during the Great Resignation.

Data by the Pew Research Center reveals the demographics of those who are the most likely to resign. Among women in the workforce, 20% left a job in 2021 compared to 18% of men.

As for the age of those who quit their jobs, the leaders are those 18-29 years old (37%). As the age group increases, the share of employees who have quit decreases. So, we have 17% among those aged 30-29, 9% among those 50-64, and only 5% of those 65 and older.

Pew Research Center data also reveals that low-income workers are more likely to quit. Among those with a low, middle, and upper income, the share of workers who resigned in 2021 was 24%, 18%, and 11%, respectively.

(Pew Research Center)

11. Younger generations would prefer being unemployed to unhappy and employed.

A Randstad study asked workers from 34 countries whether they’d rather be unemployed than unhappily employed. The results show that younger generations value their happiness more, as 40% have responded positively.

Here are the results of what percentage responded with a “Yes” below:

(Randstad)

Global Great Resignation Statistics

12. Nearly a third of employees in the UK consider changing jobs in 2022.

While the concept of the Great Resignation started in the United States, that doesn’t mean that other markets are safe from it. In fact, in a survey focused on UK workers, 29% said they wanted to change jobs in 2022.

Depending on the sector, the share of people who would quit their jobs was much higher. For example, 44% of those employed in the legal industry and 42% of those in the IT sector said they would resign for a better offer.

(The HR Director)

13. More than 40% of workers worldwide considered leaving their jobs in 2021.

According to the data in the annual Work Trend Index report for 2021, over 40% of global employees were considering switching or simply leaving their jobs.

The survey also outlined the best ways for employers to keep their workers amid the Great Resignation. One of the essentials was offering flexible work, as that’s what 73% of the employees seek.

(Microsoft 2021 Work Trend Index)

14. Over one-quarter of Australians have resigned because their jobs didn’t fit their lifestyle.

Randstad’s research focused on employees and their stance towards their jobs outlines an interesting trend in Australia. Namely, more than one quarter or 26% of Aussies have quit a job simply because it didn’t fit their personal life.

A different study discovered that 1 in 5 Australians changed jobs in 2021, while about 25% considered resigning.

(Randstad)

15. 40% of Generation Z-ers expect to leave their current jobs within two years.

That’s a lot of people! And it’s no wonder. The workplace has become more and more demanding over time, with employees having less and less time for themselves—and each other.

This is a significantly higher percentage than Millennials (24%) who say they would do so.

Of course, this statistic is not surprising—it’s no secret that Gen Zers are looking for a higher purpose in their careers and want to make an impact on the world.

To understand why we need to take a look at how this generation has been shaped by changes in technology over the last decade. Since coming of age in an era when smartphones were ubiquitous and social media platforms were growing rapidly, Generation Z has been accustomed to instant gratification. This means that if something isn’t working for them immediately (or even within a week), they will likely move on to something else—and there are plenty of other options out there for them.

But what does this mean for employers?

It’s up to you to find ways to help your employees achieve their goals and feel valued. If a company doesn’t offer flexible work hours or provide opportunities for growth, it’s likely that many of your employees will be looking for other options.

You can do this by giving employees opportunities to grow within their current roles but also providing them with new responsibilities that challenge them and allow them to take on more responsibilities than they might be able to handle initially.

(Deloitte)

Conclusion

Let’s wrap it up!

There are a lot of interesting statistics here, and I hope you’ve taken the time to think about how they might apply to your career.

We hope you enjoyed this journey through the data with us! If there’s anything else you’d like to know about The Great Resignation, or if you want to share some of your own thoughts, please feel free to reach out to us!

Until next time, take care and all the best!

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Sources

• BLS
• BLS
• BLS
• BLS
• Deloitte
• Pew Research Center
• The HR Director
• Microsoft
• Randstad