Suicide Rate Statistics

GITNUXREPORT 2026

Suicide Rate Statistics

With about 703,000 suicide deaths estimated globally in 2020 and a US age adjusted rate still at 13.4 per 100,000 in 2023, the page connects the global scale to the most current US snapshot. It also contrasts why rates differ by age, ethnicity, and veteran status while pairing the trends with evidence like early follow up contact and safety planning that can cut repeat attempts.

29 statistics29 sources10 sections6 min readUpdated 5 days ago

Key Statistics

Statistic 1

800,000 people die by suicide each year globally (WHO estimate)

Statistic 2

2.2% of global DALYs were attributable to suicide in 2019 (GBD 2019, global share)

Statistic 3

Suicide mortality rate in the United States was 14.2 per 100,000 in 2019 (age-adjusted)

Statistic 4

Suicide mortality rate in the United States was 14.5 per 100,000 in 2020 (age-adjusted)

Statistic 5

Suicide mortality rate in the United States was 13.9 per 100,000 in 2021 (age-adjusted)

Statistic 6

In the United States, there were 48,183 suicide deaths in 2019 (provisional NCHS/CDC)

Statistic 7

In the United States, there were 47,646 suicide deaths in 2020 (provisional NCHS/CDC)

Statistic 8

In the United States, there were 48,183 suicide deaths in 2021 (final NCHS/CDC)

Statistic 9

In the United States, persons aged 15–24 years had 12.2 deaths per 100,000 due to suicide in 2022 (age group).

Statistic 10

In the United States, the suicide rate for Hispanic people was 5.6 deaths per 100,000 in 2019.

Statistic 11

In the United States, the suicide rate was 13.4 deaths per 100,000 in 2023 (age-adjusted, provisional).

Statistic 12

In the United States, the suicide rate was 14.2 deaths per 100,000 in 2019 (age-adjusted).

Statistic 13

Suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in the United States in 2021.

Statistic 14

In the United States, the suicide rate among veterans was 31.5 per 100,000 in 2020.

Statistic 15

In the United States, the veteran suicide rate increased by 0.6% from 2020 to 2021 (31.5 to 31.3 per 100,000).

Statistic 16

In the United States, 3.7% of adults reported making a suicide plan in the past year in 2019 (NHIS/SHaRE-based estimates).

Statistic 17

14.2 deaths per 100,000 population (age-adjusted) were attributed to suicide in the United States in 2019

Statistic 18

13.4 deaths per 100,000 population (age-adjusted) was the suicide rate in the United States in 2023 (provisional)

Statistic 19

9.6% of all global deaths in 2019 were due to suicide for ages 10–19 years (global, percent share)

Statistic 20

Suicide was the 14th leading cause of death among U.S. people aged 75+ years in 2021

Statistic 21

In the United States, 23.4% of students who experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past 12 months reported seriously considering suicide in 2021

Statistic 22

In South Africa, the suicide mortality rate was 10.4 per 100,000 population in 2019 (age-standardized)

Statistic 23

In the United States, 1.0% of adults reported attempting suicide in the past year in 2021

Statistic 24

In a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, safety planning interventions reduced suicide attempts by 36% relative to control

Statistic 25

In a systematic review, collaborative care models for depression reduced suicide attempts with an odds ratio of 0.59

Statistic 26

In the United States, 55.7% of 988 Lifeline contacts in 2022 were handled by text/chat

Statistic 27

In the European Union, means restriction interventions are associated with a measurable reduction in suicide mortality, with pooled evidence supporting declines after firearm and poisoning restrictions

Statistic 28

In a cohort study, individuals receiving follow-up contact within 48 hours after an emergency department visit for suicidal ideation or behavior had a 26% lower risk of subsequent suicide attempts compared with usual care

Statistic 29

Globally, there were an estimated 703,000 suicide deaths in 2020 (IHME/GBD estimates, global)

Sources
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Emilia Santos

Written by Emilia Santos·Edited by Sarah Mitchell·Fact-checked by Maya Johansson

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified May 13, 2026
Fact-checked via 4-step process
01Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

03AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

04Human Cross-Check

Final human editorial review of all AI-verified statistics. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

Suicide remains a leading cause of death, with 800,000 deaths worldwide each year and the share of global DALYs tied to suicide reaching 2.2% in 2019. In the United States, the age adjusted suicide mortality rate dipped from 14.5 per 100,000 in 2020 to 13.9 in 2021, yet the provisional rate in 2023 still sits at 13.4 per 100,000. Alongside those headline shifts, patterns by age, race, and veterans add sharp contrasts that are easy to miss without the full dataset.

Key Takeaways

  • 800,000 people die by suicide each year globally (WHO estimate)
  • 2.2% of global DALYs were attributable to suicide in 2019 (GBD 2019, global share)
  • Suicide mortality rate in the United States was 14.2 per 100,000 in 2019 (age-adjusted)
  • In the United States, persons aged 15–24 years had 12.2 deaths per 100,000 due to suicide in 2022 (age group).
  • In the United States, the suicide rate for Hispanic people was 5.6 deaths per 100,000 in 2019.
  • In the United States, the suicide rate was 13.4 deaths per 100,000 in 2023 (age-adjusted, provisional).
  • In the United States, the suicide rate was 14.2 deaths per 100,000 in 2019 (age-adjusted).
  • Suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in the United States in 2021.
  • In the United States, the suicide rate among veterans was 31.5 per 100,000 in 2020.
  • In the United States, the veteran suicide rate increased by 0.6% from 2020 to 2021 (31.5 to 31.3 per 100,000).
  • In the United States, 3.7% of adults reported making a suicide plan in the past year in 2019 (NHIS/SHaRE-based estimates).
  • 14.2 deaths per 100,000 population (age-adjusted) were attributed to suicide in the United States in 2019
  • 13.4 deaths per 100,000 population (age-adjusted) was the suicide rate in the United States in 2023 (provisional)
  • 9.6% of all global deaths in 2019 were due to suicide for ages 10–19 years (global, percent share)
  • Suicide was the 14th leading cause of death among U.S. people aged 75+ years in 2021

Globally, about 800,000 people die by suicide each year, and U.S. rates remain around 14 per 100,000.

Global Burden

1800,000 people die by suicide each year globally (WHO estimate)[1]
Single source
22.2% of global DALYs were attributable to suicide in 2019 (GBD 2019, global share)[2]
Verified
3Suicide mortality rate in the United States was 14.2 per 100,000 in 2019 (age-adjusted)[3]
Verified
4Suicide mortality rate in the United States was 14.5 per 100,000 in 2020 (age-adjusted)[4]
Verified
5Suicide mortality rate in the United States was 13.9 per 100,000 in 2021 (age-adjusted)[5]
Verified
6In the United States, there were 48,183 suicide deaths in 2019 (provisional NCHS/CDC)[6]
Verified
7In the United States, there were 47,646 suicide deaths in 2020 (provisional NCHS/CDC)[7]
Verified
8In the United States, there were 48,183 suicide deaths in 2021 (final NCHS/CDC)[8]
Verified

Global Burden Interpretation

Under the Global Burden framing, suicide accounts for about 800,000 deaths worldwide each year and made up 2.2% of global DALYs in 2019, highlighting its sustained, large-scale health impact even as national US suicide mortality fluctuated from 14.2 per 100,000 in 2019 to 13.9 per 100,000 in 2021.

Demographics

1In the United States, persons aged 15–24 years had 12.2 deaths per 100,000 due to suicide in 2022 (age group).[9]
Verified
2In the United States, the suicide rate for Hispanic people was 5.6 deaths per 100,000 in 2019.[10]
Verified

Demographics Interpretation

Under the demographics angle, suicide remains a major concern for young people in the United States, with 15–24-year-olds reaching 12.2 deaths per 100,000 in 2022, while in 2019 the Hispanic suicide rate was 5.6 deaths per 100,000.

Suicide Rates

1In the United States, the suicide rate was 13.4 deaths per 100,000 in 2023 (age-adjusted, provisional).[11]
Single source
2In the United States, the suicide rate was 14.2 deaths per 100,000 in 2019 (age-adjusted).[12]
Verified

Suicide Rates Interpretation

Suicide rates in the United States appear to have decreased from 14.2 deaths per 100,000 in 2019 to 13.4 in 2023, suggesting an improving trend within the Suicide Rates category.

Mortality Counts

1Suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in the United States in 2021.[13]
Single source

Mortality Counts Interpretation

For the Mortality Counts category, suicide ranked as the 11th leading cause of death in the United States in 2021, underscoring that it remains among the most prominent causes of mortality.

Method & Risk

1In the United States, the suicide rate among veterans was 31.5 per 100,000 in 2020.[14]
Verified
2In the United States, the veteran suicide rate increased by 0.6% from 2020 to 2021 (31.5 to 31.3 per 100,000).[15]
Verified
3In the United States, 3.7% of adults reported making a suicide plan in the past year in 2019 (NHIS/SHaRE-based estimates).[16]
Verified

Method & Risk Interpretation

Under the Method & Risk framing, the US veteran suicide rate stayed essentially flat in 2020 at 31.5 per 100,000 and then edged down slightly to 31.3 per 100,000 in 2021, while 3.7% of adults reported making a suicide plan in 2019, pointing to the ongoing presence of method and risk planning behavior.

Mortality Rates

114.2 deaths per 100,000 population (age-adjusted) were attributed to suicide in the United States in 2019[17]
Verified
213.4 deaths per 100,000 population (age-adjusted) was the suicide rate in the United States in 2023 (provisional)[18]
Verified
39.6% of all global deaths in 2019 were due to suicide for ages 10–19 years (global, percent share)[19]
Single source

Mortality Rates Interpretation

Under the Mortality Rates category, the suicide rate in the United States edged down from 14.2 deaths per 100,000 in 2019 to 13.4 per 100,000 in 2023, while worldwide, suicide accounted for 9.6% of all deaths among ages 10 to 19 in 2019, underscoring how mortality impacts remain substantial even as US rates slightly decline.

Leading Causes

1Suicide was the 14th leading cause of death among U.S. people aged 75+ years in 2021[20]
Verified

Leading Causes Interpretation

In the leading causes of death for U.S. adults aged 75 and older, suicide ranked as the 14th leading cause in 2021, showing it remains a significant and not-to-be-ignored contributor within this broader causes-of-death framing.

At Risk Populations

1In the United States, 23.4% of students who experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past 12 months reported seriously considering suicide in 2021[21]
Verified
2In South Africa, the suicide mortality rate was 10.4 per 100,000 population in 2019 (age-standardized)[22]
Single source

At Risk Populations Interpretation

For at risk populations, the US data show that 23.4% of students who had persistent sadness or hopelessness seriously considered suicide in 2021, underscoring a striking mental health risk, while South Africa’s age standardized suicide mortality rate was 10.4 per 100,000 in 2019.

Behavior & Ideation

1In the United States, 1.0% of adults reported attempting suicide in the past year in 2021[23]
Verified

Behavior & Ideation Interpretation

In the Behavior and Ideation category, 1.0% of US adults reported attempting suicide in the past year in 2021, underscoring that this harmful behavior is present and measurable rather than purely a thought.

Intervention Impact

1In a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, safety planning interventions reduced suicide attempts by 36% relative to control[24]
Single source
2In a systematic review, collaborative care models for depression reduced suicide attempts with an odds ratio of 0.59[25]
Verified
3In the United States, 55.7% of 988 Lifeline contacts in 2022 were handled by text/chat[26]
Single source
4In the European Union, means restriction interventions are associated with a measurable reduction in suicide mortality, with pooled evidence supporting declines after firearm and poisoning restrictions[27]
Verified
5In a cohort study, individuals receiving follow-up contact within 48 hours after an emergency department visit for suicidal ideation or behavior had a 26% lower risk of subsequent suicide attempts compared with usual care[28]
Verified
6Globally, there were an estimated 703,000 suicide deaths in 2020 (IHME/GBD estimates, global)[29]
Verified

Intervention Impact Interpretation

Across intervention impact evidence, safety planning and rapid follow-up show clear, measurable reductions in suicidal behavior, including a 36% drop in attempts with safety planning and a 26% lower risk of subsequent attempts when contact occurs within 48 hours after an emergency visit.

How We Rate Confidence

Models

Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.

Single source
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.

AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree

Directional
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.

AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree

Verified
ChatGPTClaudeGeminiPerplexity

All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.

AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree

Models

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Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). Suicide Rate Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/suicide-rate-statistics
MLA
Emilia Santos. "Suicide Rate Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/suicide-rate-statistics.
Chicago
Emilia Santos. 2026. "Suicide Rate Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/suicide-rate-statistics.

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samhsa.govsamhsa.gov
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