Suicide Rates
An estimated 727,000 people died by suicide in 2021, an age-standardised rate of 8.9 per 100,000. Men die by suicide at more than twice the rate of women (12.3 versus 5.6 per 100,000), and 73% of all suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries. Global rates have fallen about 35% since 2000, yet suicide remains the third leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds.
Key Suicide Statistics Insights
Rates Have Fallen, But Slowly
The global age-standardised suicide rate dropped about 35% between 2000 and 2021, from roughly 13.7 to 8.9 per 100,000, easing further from 9.0 in 2019. Even so, the current pace falls short of the Sustainable Development Goal target of a one-third reduction in suicide mortality between 2015 and 2030.
A Wide Gap Between Men and Women
Globally the age-standardised suicide rate is about 2.2 times higher in men (12.3 per 100,000) than in women (5.6 per 100,000) for 2021. The gap varies by region, from a male-to-female ratio near 1.4 in South-East Asia to close to 4 in the Region of the Americas.
Most Deaths in Lower-Income Settings
About 73% of the world's suicides in 2021 occurred in low- and middle-income countries, where mental health services and crisis support are often least available. Suicide accounted for roughly 1.1% of all deaths worldwide that year.
A Leading Cause Among the Young
Suicide was the third leading cause of death among people aged 15-29 globally in 2021, and the second leading cause for young women in that age group. More than half of all suicides occur before the age of 50.
Global Age-Standardised Suicide Rate (2000-2021)
Deaths per 100,000 population, age-standardised
Key Finding: The global rate fell about 35% from roughly 13.7 per 100,000 in 2000 to 8.9 in 2021, continuing a slow decline from 9.0 in 2019.
Suicide Rate by Sex (2021)
Age-standardised rate per 100,000
Key Finding: Men die by suicide at 12.3 per 100,000 versus 5.6 for women, a gap of about 2.2 times globally.
Suicide Rate by WHO Region (2021)
Age-standardised rate per 100,000
Key Finding: Rates range from 11.5 per 100,000 in the African Region to 4.0 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, with the global average at 8.9.
Where the World's Suicides Occur (2021)
Share of global suicide deaths by country income group
Key Finding: About 73% of all suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries, where mental health resources are often most limited.
Estimated Global Suicide Deaths
Total deaths per year, in thousands
Key Finding: The estimated annual toll eased from about 762,000 in 2000 and 703,000 in 2019 to 727,000 in 2021, even as the age-standardised rate kept falling.
Understanding Suicide Data
What an age-standardised rate means
An age-standardised rate expresses deaths per 100,000 people after adjusting for differences in the age structure of populations. Because suicide risk varies with age, standardising to a common reference population lets rates be compared fairly across countries and over time. The related crude rate simply divides deaths by total population without this adjustment.
Why suicides are often under-counted
Suicide is widely believed to be under-reported and misclassified. Stigma, legal sensitivities and the difficulty of determining intent mean some deaths are recorded under undetermined or accidental causes. As a result, official figures are generally regarded as a lower bound, and part of any observed decline may reflect reporting gaps rather than a real fall.
Differences in data quality
WHO estimates draw on national vital registration systems, which differ greatly in coverage and completeness. High-income countries typically have robust death registration, while many low- and middle-income countries rely on modelled estimates or partial data. Comparisons between regions should keep these differences in mind, and historical figures are revised as new information becomes available.
Caveats and a note on prevention
These are population-level estimates, not exact case counts, and they describe broad epidemiological patterns rather than individual circumstances. This page presents no information on methods. Suicide is preventable, and help is available: anyone in distress is encouraged to reach out to a local crisis line or health professional. Sources of support are listed by the International Association for Suicide Prevention.