Suicide accounts for an estimated 800,000 deaths worldwide each year. The provisional U.S. rate for 2023 is 13.4 deaths per 100,000 people. This data also reveals significant disparities across different age groups and populations.
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.
Related reading
01 · Category
Global Burden8 stats
01
800,000 people die by suicide each year globally (WHO estimate)[1]
02
2.2% of global DALYs were attributable to suicide in 2019 (GBD 2019, global share)[2]
03
Suicide mortality rate in the United States was 14.2 per 100,000 in 2019 (age-adjusted)[3]
04
Suicide mortality rate in the United States was 14.5 per 100,000 in 2020 (age-adjusted)[3]
05
Suicide mortality rate in the United States was 13.9 per 100,000 in 2021 (age-adjusted)[3]
06
In the United States, there were 48,183 suicide deaths in 2019 (provisional NCHS/CDC)[3]
07
In the United States, there were 47,646 suicide deaths in 2020 (provisional NCHS/CDC)[3]
08
In the United States, there were 48,183 suicide deaths in 2021 (final NCHS/CDC)[3]
Interpretation
Global Burden Interpretation
Globally, suicide accounts for about 800,000 deaths each year and 2.2% of total DALYs in 2019, underscoring that under the Global Burden framework it remains a major contributor to both mortality and overall health loss worldwide.
02 · Category
Intervention Impact6 stats
01
In a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, safety planning interventions reduced suicide attempts by 36% relative to control[4]
02
In a systematic review, collaborative care models for depression reduced suicide attempts with an odds ratio of 0.59[5]
03
In the United States, 55.7% of 988 Lifeline contacts in 2022 were handled by text/chat[6]
04
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[4]
05
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[7]
06
Globally, there were an estimated 703,000 suicide deaths in 2020 (IHME/GBD estimates, global)[2]
Interpretation
Intervention Impact Interpretation
Intervention impact is strongly supported by evidence that safety planning cuts suicide attempts by 36% and collaborative depression care lowers them to an odds ratio of 0.59, while timely follow up like contact within 48 hours further improves outcomes.
03 · Category
Method & Risk3 stats
01
In the United States, the suicide rate among veterans was 31.5 per 100,000 in 2020.[8]
02
In the United States, the veteran suicide rate increased by 0.6% from 2020 to 2021 (31.5 to 31.3 per 100,000).[8]
03
In the United States, 3.7% of adults reported making a suicide plan in the past year in 2019 (NHIS/SHaRE-based estimates).[6]
Interpretation
Method & Risk Interpretation
For the Method and Risk category, veterans in the United States had a suicide rate of 31.5 per 100,000 in 2020 and then rose slightly by 0.6% from 2020 to 2021, while 3.7% of adults reported making a suicide plan in the past year in 2019, underscoring both ongoing elevated risk and the presence of explicit planning behavior.
More related reading
04 · Category
Mortality Rates3 stats
01
14.2 deaths per 100,000 population (age-adjusted) were attributed to suicide in the United States in 2019[3]
02
13.4 deaths per 100,000 population (age-adjusted) was the suicide rate in the United States in 2023 (provisional)[3]
03
9.6% of all global deaths in 2019 were due to suicide for ages 10–19 years (global, percent share)[9]
Interpretation
Mortality Rates Interpretation
Under the Mortality Rates category, suicide remains a persistent cause of death with the US age adjusted rate rising from 14.2 deaths per 100,000 in 2019 to 13.4 per 100,000 in 2023 and global data showing suicide accounted for 9.6% of all deaths among people ages 10 to 19 in 2019.
05 · Category
Demographics2 stats
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
From a demographic standpoint, suicide remains a major issue for young people in the United States, with the 15 to 24 age group recording 12.2 deaths per 100,000 in 2022, and rates also vary across groups since Hispanic people had 5.6 deaths per 100,000 in 2019.
06 · Category
Overview7 stats
01
In the United States, the suicide rate was 13.4 deaths per 100,000 in 2023 (age-adjusted, provisional).[3]
02
In the United States, the suicide rate was 14.2 deaths per 100,000 in 2019 (age-adjusted).[3]
03
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[3]
04
In South Africa, the suicide mortality rate was 10.4 per 100,000 population in 2019 (age-standardized)[10]
05
Suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in the United States in 2021.[3]
06
Suicide was the 14th leading cause of death among U.S. people aged 75+ years in 2021[3]
07
In the United States, 1.0% of adults reported attempting suicide in the past year in 2021[6]
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
In this industry overview, the United States shows a modest but clear downward trend in suicide from 14.2 deaths per 100,000 in 2019 to 13.4 in 2023, while suicide remains a major public health burden as the 11th leading cause of death in 2021.
report visual · Comparison
U.S. Suicide Mortality Rate Over Time
The U.S. age-adjusted suicide mortality rate shows a year-to-year pattern from 2019 to 2021.
Suicide mortality rate in the United States was 14.2 per 100,000 in 2019 (age-adjusted)100,000
Suicide mortality rate in the United States was 14.5 per 100,000 in 2020 (age-adjusted)100,000
Suicide mortality rate in the United States was 13.9 per 100,000 in 2021 (age-adjusted)100,000
source-verifiedcdc.gov2021
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
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.
Sources & references
10 sources cited across this report