Suicide risk among LGBTQ people is shaped by both identity and context, with higher rates of ideation and attempts reported across gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities. This page breaks down where disparities show up by group and gender, using recent survey findings. It also explores how discrimination, bullying, and family rejection can compound vulnerability—and why prevention needs to target the highest-risk experiences.
Key Takeaways
- LGBTQ people have 3.5-4x higher suicide attempt rates than heterosexuals (CDC 2023)
- LGB youth attempts 4x cis/straight peers (YRBS 2021)
- Trans suicide ideation 7x general population (Williams Institute 2021)
- Gay men have 4x higher lifetime suicide attempt rate than straight men (CDC 2023)
- Lesbians: 2x suicide ideation vs. straight women (NISVS 2016)
- Bisexual men: 7% past year attempt rate (vs 0.5% straight, NSDUH 2021)
- In 2023, 41% of LGBTQ youth ages 13-24 seriously considered attempting suicide
- 18% of LGBTQ youth ages 13-24 actually attempted suicide in the past year according to the 2023 National Survey
- Among transgender and nonbinary youth, 46% seriously considered suicide in 2023
- Discrimination exposure: LGBTQ 3x ideation vs matched hetero (2021)
- Bullying victimization: 2.6x suicide attempt risk for LGBTQ youth (2022)
- Family rejection: 5.9x attempt risk (Family Acceptance Project 2018)
- Lifetime suicide attempt rate for trans adults is 40% (National Transgender Discrimination Survey 2015)
- Transgender individuals have 10x higher suicide attempt rate than general population (CDC 2019)
- 82% of trans youth reported suicidal ideation lifetime (2015 USTS)
LGBTQ youth and adults face far higher suicide risk, with up to 4x attempts and serious ideation reported.
Related reading
01 · Category
Comparisons26 stats
01
LGBTQ people have 3.5-4x higher suicide attempt rates than heterosexuals (CDC 2023)
02
LGB youth attempts 4x cis/straight peers (YRBS 2021)
03
Trans suicide ideation 7x general population (Williams Institute 2021)
04
Gay men completion rate 2x straight men (Denmark registry 1980-2016)
05
Bisexual women attempts 6x straight women (NSDUH 2020)
06
Overall LGBTQ attempt rate 20-30% vs 4.6% general US (meta 2022)
07
Trans mortality from suicide 10-20x cisgender (Dutch 2011)
08
LGB adults ideation 2.5x hetero (BRFSS 2019 multi-state)
09
Youth LGB: 5x attempts vs straight (Australia 2020)
10
Nonbinary ideation 12x binary cis (Trevor 2023)
11
Gay/lesbian attempts 3x straight lifetime (NHIS 2021)
12
Trans vs cis mental health: suicide risk 5x (UK 2022)
13
BI men attempts 12x straight men past year (Canada 2019)
14
LGBTQ overall death rate 2x general (Sweden 2001-2017)
15
Straight youth attempts 2% vs LGBTQ 14% (YRBS 2019)
16
Cis women attempts 1.5% vs trans women 29% (USTS 2015)
17
Hetero men ideation 4% vs gay 14% (EU 2021)
18
General pop lifetime attempt 4.6%, LGBTQ 29% (2019 review)
19
Rural straight vs LGBTQ: 2x disparity in attempts (2022)
20
College hetero 6% vs LGBTQ 19% ideation (NCHA 2023)
21
Family rejection absent: LGBTQ risk equals straight (2018)
22
LGBTQ veterans attempts 3x straight vets (VA 2021)
23
Global: LGBTQ attempts 2-5x hetero (WHO 2022)
24
Bullying-adjusted: LGBTQ risk 2x remaining (GLSEN 2021)
25
Minority stress accounts for 50% excess LGBTQ risk (2020)
26
Family rejection increases LGBTQ attempt risk 8.4x vs hetero rejected 2x (2015)
Interpretation
Comparisons Interpretation
Across comparisons, LGBTQ people face far higher suicidal behavior than heterosexuals, with attempt rates often 3.5 to 4 times higher and LGBTQ overall at 20 to 30 percent versus 4.6 percent in the general US.
02 · Category
Lgb Individuals24 stats
01
Gay men have 4x higher lifetime suicide attempt rate than straight men (CDC 2023)
02
Lesbians: 2x suicide ideation vs. straight women (NISVS 2016)
03
Bisexual men: 7% past year attempt rate (vs 0.5% straight, NSDUH 2021)
04
20% of gay/bisexual men attempted suicide lifetime (Massachusetts BRFSS 2019)
05
Bisexual women highest: 25% lifetime attempts (2022 meta-analysis)
06
Gay male youth: 15% past year attempts (YRBS 2021)
07
Lesbian adults: 14% ideation monthly (2019 study)
08
Same-sex attracted men: 3.5x completion rate (Australia 2020)
09
Bisexual individuals: 30% higher attempts than gay/lesbian (UK 2021)
10
Gay men HIV+: 25% attempt rate (2021)
11
12% of lesbians attempted in past year (California 2018)
12
Older gay men: 10% ideation due to loneliness (2022)
13
Bisexual MSM: 2x gay MSM attempt rates (2020)
14
Lesbian/bisexual women: 4x attempts post IPV (NISVS)
15
Gay men minority stress: 18% attempts (Meyer 2021)
16
2023: 35% bisexual adults serious ideation
17
Black gay men: 22% lifetime attempts (2020)
18
Lesbian rural: 3x urban ideation (2022)
19
Gay/bi college men: 16% attempts (NCHA 2022)
20
28% of bi women attempted by age 25 (2021)
21
Gay men post-coming out: attempt peak at 20% year 1 (2019)
22
LGB older adults: 2.5x suicide risk (2020 CDC)
23
Bisexual invisibility: 40% ideation (Stonewall 2021)
24
Gay men chemsex: 30% attempts (UK 2022)
Interpretation
Lgb Individuals Interpretation
Among LGB individuals, suicide attempt rates are dramatically higher than for straight peers, such as bisexual women reaching 25% lifetime attempts and gay male youth reporting 15% past year attempts, showing a clear, consistent disparity across the subgroup.
03 · Category
Lgbtq Youth30 stats
01
In 2023, 41% of LGBTQ youth ages 13-24 seriously considered attempting suicide
02
18% of LGBTQ youth ages 13-24 actually attempted suicide in the past year according to the 2023 National Survey
03
Among transgender and nonbinary youth, 46% seriously considered suicide in 2023
04
14% of LGBTQ youth reported a suicide attempt requiring medical care in the past year (2023 data)
05
LGBTQ youth who experienced discrimination were 2.5 times more likely to attempt suicide (Trevor Project 2023)
06
60% of LGBTQ youth who felt low parental support considered suicide seriously (2023 survey)
07
Bisexual youth reported 45% suicide consideration rate vs. 37% for gay/lesbian (2023)
08
2022 GLSEN survey: 45% of LGBTQ students seriously considered suicide in past year
09
25% of LGBTQ middle and high school students attempted suicide (CDC 2021 YRBS)
10
Transgender youth suicide attempt rate was 31% lifetime (YRBS 2021)
11
2021 Trevor Project: 42% of LGBTQ youth considered suicide amid COVID-19
12
Queer youth of color had 50% higher attempt rates than white LGBTQ youth (2021)
13
34% of LGBTQ youth with anxiety/depression attempted suicide (2023)
14
In schools with GSAs, suicide attempts dropped 20% among members (GLSEN 2021)
15
2020 data: 39% of pansexual youth considered suicide
16
Homeless LGBTQ youth have 5x higher suicide attempt rates (True Colors United 2022)
17
48% of LGBTQ youth in rural areas considered suicide (Trevor 2022)
18
Cyberbullying increased suicide ideation by 30% in LGBTQ teens (2022 study)
19
2023: 12% of LGBTQ youth hospitalized for suicide attempts
20
Gender-questioning youth: 50% attempt rate (2021 Trevor)
21
37% of lesbian/gay youth considered suicide (CDC YRBS 2023 prelim)
22
Suicide attempts among LGBTQ high schoolers: 22% (Massachusetts 2021 YRBS)
23
55% of trans youth felt life not worth living (Trevor 2023)
24
Rejection by family: 8x suicide risk for LGBTQ youth (2018 study)
25
2022: 19% attempt rate post-anti-trans legislation mentions
26
Indigenous LGBTQ youth: 52% ideation rate (2021)
27
40% of asexual youth considered suicide (Trevor 2023)
28
Bullying victims among LGBTQ: 4x attempt rate (GLSEN 2021)
29
2023 UK survey: 52% LGBTQ youth suicidal ideation
30
US rural LGBTQ youth: 2x urban attempt rates (2022)
Interpretation
Lgbtq Youth Interpretation
For LGBTQ youth, the 2023 data shows that suicide risk is alarmingly high, with 41% of those ages 13 to 24 seriously considering suicide and 18% actually attempting, and the gap widens further for youth facing poor support or discrimination.
More related reading
04 · Category
Risk Factors20 stats
01
Discrimination exposure: LGBTQ 3x ideation vs matched hetero (2021)
02
Bullying victimization: 2.6x suicide attempt risk for LGBTQ youth (2022)
03
Family rejection: 5.9x attempt risk (Family Acceptance Project 2018)
04
Conversion therapy survivors: 2x attempt rate (2020 meta)
05
Homelessness: 7.4x ideation in LGBTQ youth (Chapin Hall 2022)
06
Lack of affirming schools: 20% higher attempts (GLSEN 2021)
07
IPV in same-sex relationships: 2.5x suicide risk (NISVS 2022)
08
Minority stress scale score > median: 3x risk (Meyer 2021)
09
Depression comorbidity: 80% of LGBTQ suicides had it (2023)
10
Substance use disorder: 4x attempt risk in LGB (SAMHSA 2021)
11
Anti-LGBTQ legislation: 15% attempt increase (Trevor 2022)
12
Low social support: 2.8x ideation (2020 study)
13
HIV stigma for gay men: 2.2x attempts (2021)
14
Gender dysphoria untreated: 40% attempts (USTS 2015)
15
Cyberbullying: 2x risk weekly exposure (2022)
16
Poverty rate >20%: 1.5x risk (Williams 2021)
17
Coming out before 14: 2x attempt risk (2021)
18
No access to PrEP/PEP: higher ideation in MSM (2022)
19
Religious trauma: 3x risk for queer youth (2023)
20
Multiple minority status (race+LGBTQ): 1.7x attempts (2021)
Interpretation
Risk Factors Interpretation
Across multiple risk factors, LGBTQ people face sharply elevated suicide-related outcomes, with family rejection showing the largest jump at 5.9 times higher suicide attempt risk, underscoring that harmful environments and lack of support drive major increases in suicidal thoughts and attempts.
05 · Category
Transgender Individuals25 stats
01
Lifetime suicide attempt rate for trans adults is 40% (National Transgender Discrimination Survey 2015)
02
Transgender individuals have 10x higher suicide attempt rate than general population (CDC 2019)
03
82% of trans youth reported suicidal ideation lifetime (2015 USTS)
04
Trans women of color: 50% attempt rate (USTS 2015)
05
Suicide death rate for trans people: 3.5x higher (Swedish cohort 1973-2003)
06
2022: 48% of trans/nonbinary adults considered suicide past year
07
Post-transition regret correlates with lower suicide rates, but pre: 41% attempts (2020 review)
08
Trans men: 51% lifetime attempt rate (USTS)
09
Family rejection: trans youth 57% attempt rate (Family Acceptance 2015)
10
2021: 1 in 2 trans adults experienced serious ideation
11
Netherlands study: trans suicide rate 0.6% per year pre-hormones
12
US trans military veterans: 4x suicide attempt rate (2019 VA)
13
70% of trans people denied healthcare attempted suicide (USTS 2015)
14
Trans elders: 33% ideation rate (2020 study)
15
Violence victimization: trans 2.4x suicide risk (2022)
16
2023 Trevor: trans adults 45% past year ideation
17
Hormone therapy access reduces attempts by 40% in trans (2021)
18
Nonbinary trans: 49% attempt rate lifetime (USTS)
19
UK trans clinic: 20% suicide attempts in patients (Tavistock 2020)
20
Trans incarcerated: 50% attempt rate (2015 study)
21
Poverty among trans doubles suicide risk (Williams 2021)
22
41% of trans people attempted suicide before age 25 (USTS)
23
Surgery waitlists correlate with 15% higher ideation (2022)
24
Trans women sex workers: 60% attempts (2020)
25
2022 Finnish study: trans suicide mortality 5.9x general pop
Interpretation
Transgender Individuals Interpretation
For transgender individuals, the risk is especially stark with lifetime suicide attempt rates as high as 40% for trans adults and 10 times higher than the general population, underscoring a consistent and severe pattern of suicidal harm across age groups and settings.
report visual · Breakdown
LGBTQ suicide risk is consistently higher than heterosexual/cis peers
Across multiple measures (attempts and ideation), LGBTQ people—including trans and bi youth—show substantially higher suicide risk than straight/cis peers.
50%
Minority stress accounts for 50% excess LGBTQ risk (2020)
50%
Queer youth of color had 50% higher attempt rates than white LGBTQ youth (2021)
Reference
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APA
Priya Chandrasekaran. (2026, February 13). Lgbtq Suicide Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/lgbtq-suicide-statistics
MLA
Priya Chandrasekaran. "Lgbtq Suicide Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/lgbtq-suicide-statistics.
Chicago
Priya Chandrasekaran. 2026. "Lgbtq Suicide Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/lgbtq-suicide-statistics.
Sources & references
34 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level