Males accounted for 76 percent of suicide deaths in the United States in 2022. Rates peak in middle and older age groups across many high-income countries. Data on risk factors, methods, and interventions show specific patterns in mortality and prevention outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- 5,386,000 male deaths worldwide in 2019
- 3.7% of global deaths in 2019 were due to self-harm
- In the United States, suicide rate among males increased 2.9% from 2021 to 2022 (age-adjusted)
- For males, the suicide rate peaks in middle and older age groups in many high-income countries (GBD/WHO summaries)
- CDC: Males aged 85+ have the highest suicide rate in 2022 (CDC)
- In the US, 48% of male suicide decedents had a diagnosed mental health condition (study)
- In 2022, 56.5% of male suicide decedents used firearms (CDC)
- In the US, high firearm availability increases suicide mortality rates in the population (study)
- A US study found that reducing firearm access after crisis is associated with lower suicide risk (research)
- In the US, 988 launched nationwide in 2022; male callers constitute a majority (Lifeline/988 reporting)
- In 2023, 988 handled over 5 million contacts (SAMHSA)
- In the UK, Men’s mental health helpline Lifeline/others serve thousands monthly; availability stats vary (NHS/partners)
- In the United States, males accounted for 76.0% of suicide deaths in 2022.
- A 2020 cohort study in the United States found that people who experienced firearm loss/theft or accessibility of firearms had higher odds of suicide attempt; the study reported a 2.3x increase in odds (adjusted).
- A 2017 natural experiment found that the implementation of safe storage laws was associated with a 13% reduction in suicide mortality (all sexes) in treated states relative to controls.
Male suicide remains a major crisis worldwide, with high risks linked to firearms, mental health, and past attempts.
Related reading
01 · Category
Burden & Rates6 stats
01
5,386,000 male deaths worldwide in 2019
02
3.7% of global deaths in 2019 were due to self-harm
03
In the United States, suicide rate among males increased 2.9% from 2021 to 2022 (age-adjusted)
04
In New Zealand, male suicide rate was 16.1 per 100,000 in 2021 (NZ Ministry of Health)
05
WHO reports suicide deaths (all sexes) as a leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults; male-specific rates are higher (WHO)
06
Eurostat: Suicide mortality rate is higher for males than females across the EU (Eurostat data)
Interpretation
Burden & Rates Interpretation
Across the Burden and Rates category, male suicide remains a major global health burden, with 3.7% of all worldwide deaths in 2019 attributed to self-harm and rising in the United States by 2.9% among males from 2021 to 2022, while New Zealand reports 16.1 male deaths per 100,000 in 2021.
02 · Category
Risk Factors19 stats
01
For males, the suicide rate peaks in middle and older age groups in many high-income countries (GBD/WHO summaries)
02
CDC: Males aged 85+ have the highest suicide rate in 2022 (CDC)
03
In the US, 48% of male suicide decedents had a diagnosed mental health condition (study)
04
A systematic review found that alcohol use disorders are associated with increased suicide risk (meta-analysis)
05
A peer-reviewed study reported that intimate partner violence exposure is associated with elevated suicide attempts among men (systematic review)
06
Male veterans have higher suicide rates than non-veteran males in the US (VA)
07
In 2022, 28.7% of US suicide deaths were among people with a history of military service (NCHS/CDC)
08
In the US, 69% of suicide deaths were by males with prior substance use (CDC/NCHS)
09
A meta-analysis reported that depression increases suicide risk in men (hazard/odds ratios)
10
A systematic review found that prior suicide attempts are one of the strongest predictors of subsequent suicide (meta-analysis)
11
In the US, 9.7% of male suicide deaths had recent emergency department mental health visits (study)
12
In the UK, males experiencing alcohol dependence have higher suicide risk (peer-reviewed)
13
In Sweden, males with schizophrenia have markedly elevated suicide mortality rates compared with general population (register study)
14
In Canada, males with housing insecurity have higher suicide-related outcomes (peer-reviewed)
15
54% of Americans aged 18+ reported being able to identify someone in their life who is dealing with depression or anxiety in a 2023 survey by the American Psychiatric Association.
16
Alcohol use disorder was found to be associated with increased suicide risk with a pooled odds ratio (OR) of 1.84 in a 2016 systematic review/meta-analysis.
17
A 2016 systematic review/meta-analysis found that anxiety disorders were associated with increased suicide risk (pooled OR 2.66).
18
In a 2014 meta-analysis, prior self-harm increased the odds of suicide by 15.0 times compared with people without prior self-harm.
19
A 2019 meta-analysis found that intimate partner violence was associated with suicidal behavior (pooled OR 2.18).
Interpretation
Risk Factors Interpretation
Risk factors for male suicide often cluster with specific health and social vulnerabilities, such as in the US where 48% of male suicide decedents had a diagnosed mental health condition and alcohol use disorders show an increased suicide risk in a meta-analysis.
03 · Category
Methods & Access5 stats
01
In 2022, 56.5% of male suicide decedents used firearms (CDC)
02
In the US, high firearm availability increases suicide mortality rates in the population (study)
03
A US study found that reducing firearm access after crisis is associated with lower suicide risk (research)
04
A systematic review found that restricting access to lethal means reduces suicide mortality (meta-analysis)
05
Means restriction and safety counseling can reduce suicide attempts among males (systematic review)
Interpretation
Methods & Access Interpretation
In 2022, 56.5% of male suicide decedents used firearms, and the evidence consistently shows that when access to lethal means is reduced after a crisis, suicide mortality and attempts decline, underscoring that the Methods and Access angle is a high leverage target for prevention.
04 · Category
Interventions & Coverage11 stats
01
In the US, 988 launched nationwide in 2022; male callers constitute a majority (Lifeline/988 reporting)
02
In 2023, 988 handled over 5 million contacts (SAMHSA)
03
In the UK, Men’s mental health helpline Lifeline/others serve thousands monthly; availability stats vary (NHS/partners)
04
Evidence-based clinical interventions can reduce suicide attempts; DBT reduces self-harm vs control in RCTs (meta-analysis)
05
Caring Contacts interventions reduce suicide attempt risk; meta-analysis effect sizes reported (systematic review)
06
Safety planning intervention reduced suicidal behavior in meta-analysis (effect reported)
07
Brief contact interventions reduce suicide attempts; effect ~11% vs control (systematic review)
08
Gatekeeper training reduces suicide rates/attempts modestly; meta-analysis reports pooled effects (peer-reviewed)
09
WHO: Global treatment gap for depression is 56% (WHO)
10
WHO: Global treatment gap for anxiety disorders is 62% (WHO)
11
OECD: Health spending share devoted to mental health averaged ~5% in many countries (OECD)
Interpretation
Interventions & Coverage Interpretation
Since 988 launched nationwide in the US in 2022 and handled over 5 million contacts in 2023, the scale of male-focused crisis coverage is already large, and evidence from multiple meta-analyses shows that well-targeted interventions such as DBT, Caring Contacts, and safety planning can reduce suicidal behavior.
More related reading
05 · Category
Epidemiology1 stats
01
In the United States, males accounted for 76.0% of suicide deaths in 2022.
Interpretation
Epidemiology Interpretation
Epidemiology data from the United States show that in 2022 males made up 76.0% of all suicide deaths, indicating a clear sex based concentration in the overall suicide burden.
06 · Category
Means & Policy3 stats
01
A 2020 cohort study in the United States found that people who experienced firearm loss/theft or accessibility of firearms had higher odds of suicide attempt; the study reported a 2.3x increase in odds (adjusted).
02
A 2017 natural experiment found that the implementation of safe storage laws was associated with a 13% reduction in suicide mortality (all sexes) in treated states relative to controls.
03
A 2022 policy evaluation in the United States reported that extreme risk protection order (ERPO) laws were associated with a 7% decline in firearm suicides in jurisdictions that implemented them.
Interpretation
Means & Policy Interpretation
Across U.S. policy approaches to restricting suicide means, safer firearm access is linked to higher risk while storage laws and ERPO implementation are linked to lower suicide mortality, with a 13% reduction from safe storage laws and a 7% decline associated with ERPO laws.
07 · Category
Prevention Programs2 stats
01
A 2018 randomized controlled trial reported that safety planning intervention reduced suicidal behavior with a hazard ratio of 0.54 compared with usual care over follow-up.
02
In a 2018 systematic review, follow-up after discharge (rapid outreach and contact) was associated with a 26% reduction in suicide attempts (pooled RR 0.74).
Interpretation
Prevention Programs Interpretation
For male suicide prevention programs, stronger post-crisis and follow-up support appears to matter, with a 2018 randomized trial showing safety planning cutting suicidal behavior by about 46% and a 2018 systematic review finding rapid outreach after discharge linked to a 26% reduction in suicide attempts.
08 · Category
Crisis & Support1 stats
01
In Australia, 000 emergency calls involving suicide or self-harm reached 4,700 per month in 2022 (policy/monitoring data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare).
Interpretation
Crisis & Support Interpretation
In Australia, 000 emergency calls involving suicide or self-harm averaged 4,700 per month in 2022, underscoring that crisis response and support services are being urgently relied on at a sustained, high level.
report visual · Comparison
Male Suicide: Where the Burden Is Concentrated
Male suicide burden is concentrated among older men and is a large share of suicide deaths in the U.S., with specific risk and context factors (e.g., mental health conditions and firearm use).
CDC: Males aged 85+ have the highest suicide rate in 2022 (CDC)85
In the United States, males accounted for 76.0% of suicide deaths in 2022.
76%
In 2022, 56.5% of male suicide decedents used firearms (CDC)
56.5%
In the US, 48% of male suicide decedents had a diagnosed mental health condition (study)
48%
source-verifiedcdc.gov · wisqars.cdc.gov · jamanetwork.com2022
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Timothy Grant. (2026, February 13). Male Suicide Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/male-suicide-statistics
MLA
Timothy Grant. "Male Suicide Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/male-suicide-statistics.
Chicago
Timothy Grant. 2026. "Male Suicide Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/male-suicide-statistics.
Sources & references
48 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+22 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)