Well... it has to be taught, at least. It's not like they make every adult take an annual exam ;)

http://www.infoiceland.is/swimming.html

@Karen well learning to swim is a bit like learnig to ride a bike, once you do you never really forget it

@o98
I've forgotten how to ride a bike, if that helps.

It's mandatory for swimming lessons to be taken at school in my state, so. I can't swim.

@AussiePengwin noyou havent forgotten how to ride a bike you just havent done in a while its one of the thing you never completely forget just like swimming

@o98

The last time I rode a bike was half a year ago. I got on, got some speed, and fell over. I need to learn again, trust me.

@AussiePengwin not learn, rember, have you ever notice you stopped doing something, then after a a long time you start again and its much easiers to get back up to the same level again?

@o98

...well, yeah. Still took me 3 month to remember, compared to 3 weeks when I first started.

@AussiePengwin odd, it should be opposite

Of course it is. It's Iceland, where everyone swims in eco-friendly hot tubs.

In the Netherlands, swimming used to be mandatory in school but now isn't anymore. Sad really, especially in a country that lives with water like we do. Being able to swim is currently still a cornerstone of Dutch society, but for current kids it won't be

Finnish PE has swimming lessons in it. Teachers can make a lot of choices on what they teach, but some things are required. As school is mandatory by law and swimming is one of those required things... Yeah Finland kinda has the same law.

In Switzerland too, it is part of the primary school curriculum

and here I am, afraid of swimming pools O_O

Makes sense

@NeinNeinNein9
Agreed.
I am always baffled to meet or hear about people who can't swim. I mean, if you were dirt poor and lived in a desert country, fair enough, but otherwise, I consider it a BASIC life skill, like riding a bike or driving.

@Hinoron It's not that I can't swim, I just have a healthy respect for water :P

@Monogreen
I have recently expanded my understanding about why some people can't swim... at least in the USA.
Pretty sure we've never done this in Canada. Public pools were always open to all... because, you know... they're PUBLIC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuGkVzeh4zM