Archive · 16 Aug 2025
Chances of a Meteorite Strike: Very Low, Though Not Zero
Every day, a lot of space stuff falls to Earth, but most of it burns up before it hits us.
Getting hit by a meteorite is super rare.
It's like being struck by lightning, or experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning.
The only confirmed case of someone dying from a meteorite was a long time ago.
Scientists are still studying space rocks, and it’s less likely than you think.
Earth is struck by approximately 44,000 kilograms of meteoritic material daily, with most burning up in the atmosphere.
The chances of being hit by a meteor are very low, according to studies, even lower than being hit by lightning or experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning.
The only confirmed death from a meteorite strike occurred in 1888 in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
The impact from a >140-meter asteroid or comet is more likely than an individual being struck by lightning.
A woman survived a meteorite strike in 1954 in Alabama, and a man recorded the footage of a meteorite hitting the ground in January 2025, in Prince Edward Island, Canada.
- Who
- Individuals on Earth.
- What
- The likelihood of being hit by a meteorite.
- When
- Ongoing.
- Where
- Worldwide, with a confirmed fatality in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and the first recorded footage was shared by Joe Velaidum, a resident of Prince Edward Island, Canada.
- Why
- To understand the risks associated with meteorites and asteroid impacts.
- Daily Meteoritic Material
- 44,000 kilograms
- Confirmed Death
- One (1888, Sulaymaniyah)
- Recorded Survival
- One (1954, Alabama)
- Most Recent Footage
- January 2025, Prince Edward Island, Canada
- Comparative Risk
- More likely than being hit by lightning