The WHO estimates about 20 million suicide attempts worldwide each year. In the US, suicide caused 48,183 deaths in 2021, making it the 12th leading cause of death. Evidence from attempted suicide shows about 1 in 10 people attempt again within 12 months, which shapes how follow-up care, crisis response, and access to lethal means are targeted.
Key Takeaways
- The estimated global number of suicide attempts is 20 million per year (WHO).
- In a US study of attempted suicide, about 1 in 10 persons attempt suicide again within 12 months after an index attempt (Systematic review evidence).
- In 2019, the age-standardized suicide rate in the Americas was 9.1 per 100,000 (WHO regional data).
- In 2021, the global age-standardized suicide rate was estimated at 9.0 per 100,000 population (IHME/GBD 2019-derived publication updated for 2021 results).
- In the US, suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in 2021, with 48,183 deaths (NCHS provisional count; year-specific ranking).
- In 2021, the US suicide rate was 14.1 per 100,000 population (CDC).
- In 2022, US suicide deaths were 49,449 (CDC final).
- In 2021, suicide accounted for 3.0% of deaths among ages 25–34 in the US (CDC leading causes).
- In the US, the suicide rate for non-Hispanic White persons was 18.3 per 100,000 in 2021 (CDC).
- In the US, 2021 data show firearms were used in 54% of suicide deaths (CDC).
- A 2016 US CDC study reported that 54.7% of suicides involved firearms, accounting for the majority of deaths by means (CDC report).
- Access to lethal means is a critical modifiable factor; a systematic review found that restriction of access to pesticides can significantly reduce suicide rates (systematic review).
- The US 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline launched nationwide on July 16, 2022 (FCC/official).
- In England, the Suicide Prevention Strategy specifies delivery of postvention and crisis support through the NHS and partners (UK government strategy).
- In the UK, the NHS Long Term Plan sets a goal to expand mental health services, which includes support relevant to suicide prevention (NHS England plan).
With about 20 million attempts yearly, effective crisis support and restricting lethal means can save lives.
Related reading
01 · Category
Attempt & Risk2 stats
01
The estimated global number of suicide attempts is 20 million per year (WHO).
02
In a US study of attempted suicide, about 1 in 10 persons attempt suicide again within 12 months after an index attempt (Systematic review evidence).
Interpretation
Attempt & Risk Interpretation
The “Attempt & Risk” picture shows that with an estimated 20 million suicide attempts worldwide each year and about 1 in 10 people reattempting within 12 months in a US study, suicide risk is not only frequent but also repeatedly resurfaces soon after an initial attempt.
02 · Category
Global Burden3 stats
01
In 2019, the age-standardized suicide rate in the Americas was 9.1 per 100,000 (WHO regional data).
02
In 2021, the global age-standardized suicide rate was estimated at 9.0 per 100,000 population (IHME/GBD 2019-derived publication updated for 2021 results).
03
In the US, suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in 2021, with 48,183 deaths (NCHS provisional count; year-specific ranking).
Interpretation
Global Burden Interpretation
From a global burden perspective, suicide remains a persistent public health issue with age standardized rates hovering around 9 per 100,000 worldwide in 2021 and in the Americas at 9.1 per 100,000 in 2019, while the US still recorded 48,183 deaths in 2021 as the 12th leading cause.
03 · Category
National Rates2 stats
01
In 2021, the US suicide rate was 14.1 per 100,000 population (CDC).
02
In 2022, US suicide deaths were 49,449 (CDC final).
Interpretation
National Rates Interpretation
For the National Rates category, the US suicide rate stood at 14.1 per 100,000 in 2021 and then totaled 49,449 deaths in 2022, underscoring a persistently serious level of suicide burden nationwide.
04 · Category
Demographics & Age2 stats
01
In 2021, suicide accounted for 3.0% of deaths among ages 25–34 in the US (CDC leading causes).
02
In the US, the suicide rate for non-Hispanic White persons was 18.3 per 100,000 in 2021 (CDC).
Interpretation
Demographics & Age Interpretation
For the Demographics and Age category, suicide made up 3.0% of deaths among Americans ages 25 to 34 in 2021, and in the same year the suicide rate was 18.3 per 100,000 among non-Hispanic White people, underscoring how suicide risk varies by both age and demographic group.
05 · Category
Means & Methods4 stats
01
In the US, 2021 data show firearms were used in 54% of suicide deaths (CDC).
02
A 2016 US CDC study reported that 54.7% of suicides involved firearms, accounting for the majority of deaths by means (CDC report).
03
Access to lethal means is a critical modifiable factor; a systematic review found that restriction of access to pesticides can significantly reduce suicide rates (systematic review).
04
A study of firearm policy and suicide found that implementing firearm restrictions was associated with reductions in firearm suicide rates (peer-reviewed evidence).
Interpretation
Means & Methods Interpretation
For Means and Methods, US data show firearms account for about 54 to 54.7% of suicide deaths, making access to lethal weapons a key target for prevention, since systematic research also links tighter access such as pesticide restrictions and firearm limits with lower suicide rates.
More related reading
06 · Category
Prevention & Policy3 stats
01
The US 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline launched nationwide on July 16, 2022 (FCC/official).
02
In England, the Suicide Prevention Strategy specifies delivery of postvention and crisis support through the NHS and partners (UK government strategy).
03
In the UK, the NHS Long Term Plan sets a goal to expand mental health services, which includes support relevant to suicide prevention (NHS England plan).
Interpretation
Prevention & Policy Interpretation
Since the nationwide launch of the US 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on July 16, 2022, prevention and policy efforts in both the UK and England have increasingly focused on scaling structured crisis and postvention support through public health systems like the NHS, reflecting a clear trend toward system-level expansion rather than isolated services.
07 · Category
Economic Impact6 stats
01
In the US, suicide costs include medical costs and productivity losses; a major estimate places the total economic burden at about $93.4 billion (peer-reviewed analysis).
02
A 2013 study estimated that the lifetime cost of suicide attempt cases is $27,000per case (US payer perspective estimate).
03
A 2017 study estimated the economic burden of suicide in England at £1.7 billion in one year (UK research).
04
A 2020 global study estimated the burden of self-harm and suicide for societies in terms of disability and lost years, with substantial economic impact (peer-reviewed global burden analysis).
05
In the US, average hospitalization charges for suicide attempts can exceed $10,000per admission depending on severity (Healthcare cost analyses).
06
In the US, emergency department visits for self-harm have grown; one analysis reports annual ED costs exceeding $1 billion (US claims-based study).
Interpretation
Economic Impact Interpretation
From an economic impact standpoint, suicide and self-harm impose large and measurable costs, with the US estimated at about $93.4 billion in total economic burden and US emergency department spending on self-harm surpassing $1 billion annually.
08 · Category
Policy & Prevention3 stats
01
In 2023, 55% of countries had at least one mental health policy or plan that included suicide-related components (WHO MHPSS/mental health policy survey analysis; year of policy inventory).
02
In a 2020 meta-analysis, psychosocial interventions for people at risk of suicide showed a pooled risk ratio (RR) of 0.73 for suicide attempts compared with control.
03
In a 2020 evidence review, crisis hotlines/telephone support were associated with a reduction in self-harm/suicidal outcomes with an RR of 0.81 in pooled analysis (as reported in the review).
Interpretation
Policy & Prevention Interpretation
In the Policy and Prevention space, evidence suggests progress is uneven but promising, with 55% of countries reporting mental health policies that include suicide components while psychosocial interventions (RR 0.73) and crisis hotlines showing reduced self-harm and suicidal outcomes.
09 · Category
Market & Technology2 stats
01
In 2020, the global suicide prevention market was valued at approximately $1.2 billion and was projected to reach about $2.4 billion by 2027 (vendor/industry market report, year-specific estimate).
02
In 2021, the global suicide prevention software/services market segment grew at an estimated CAGR of about 10.5% over 2021–2028 (industry report CAGR figure).
Interpretation
Market & Technology Interpretation
From a Market and Technology perspective, the suicide prevention market is projected to double from about $1.2 billion in 2020 to around $2.4 billion within the next few years, while the suicide prevention software and services segment is expected to grow at roughly a 10.5% CAGR from 2021 to 2028.
10 · Category
Cost & Utilization4 stats
01
In the US, suicide attempts are associated with medical costs that can exceed $10,000per hospitalization for cases requiring inpatient care (median cost estimate reported in a US claims-based economic study).
02
In the US, emergency department visit costs for self-harm exceeded $1.0 billion annually in a 2016 claims-based analysis (economic burden estimate).
03
In the US, 11.7% of adults with self-reported serious psychological distress had a suicide attempt in the past year (NHIS estimates; year-specific).
04
In the US, inpatient psychiatric admissions for suicide attempt/self-harm increased by 24% between 2010 and 2018 (health system utilization trend reported in AHRQ trend analysis).
Interpretation
Cost & Utilization Interpretation
From a Cost and Utilization perspective, suicide and self-harm drive substantial healthcare use, with emergency department costs surpassing $1.0 billion annually in 2016 and inpatient psychiatric admissions for suicide attempt or self-harm rising 24% from 2010 to 2018.
report visual · Key figures
Suicide burden: rates and key context
Suicide rates are similar across years in global estimates, while US burden is reflected through deaths and rate measures (plus context like recurrence risk and leading means).
100,000
In 2021, the global age-standardized suicide rate was estimated at 9.0 per 100,000 population (IHME/GBD 2019-derived pub
100,000
In 2021, the US suicide rate was 14.1 per 100,000 population (CDC).
48,183
In the US, suicide is the 12th leading cause of death in 2021, with 48,183 deaths (NCHS provisional count; year-specific
49,449
In 2022, US suicide deaths were 49,449 (CDC final).
54%
In the US, 2021 data show firearms were used in 54% of suicide deaths (CDC).
1
In a US study of attempted suicide, about 1 in 10 persons attempt suicide again within 12 months after an index attempt
source-verifiedthelancet.com · 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
Sophie Moreland. (2026, February 13). Suicide Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/suicide-statistics
MLA
Sophie Moreland. "Suicide Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/suicide-statistics.
Chicago
Sophie Moreland. 2026. "Suicide Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/suicide-statistics.
Sources & references
31 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+14 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)