Suicide rate in Cameroon
Cameroon: Suicide rate was 13.97 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▬ Flat
Latest (2021)
13.97 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
37th
of 194 countries
All-time high
14.87 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2014
All-time low
12.86 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2000
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Suicide rate in Cameroon, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
Cameroon recorded 13.97 deaths per 100,000 people for suicide rate in 2021.
That represents a change of up 1.9% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate in Cameroon peaked at 14.87 deaths per 100,000 people in 2014 and was at its lowest, 12.86 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2000.
That places Cameroon 37th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
Suicide rate in Cameroon, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 12.86 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 13.71 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.6% |
| 2002 | 13.61 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2003 | 13.81 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 13.57 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 13.84 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.9% |
| 2006 | 13.83 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.0% |
| 2007 | 13.96 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.9% |
| 2008 | 14.07 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 14.07 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 14.14 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 14.21 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 14.43 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 14.7 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 14.87 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.1% |
| 2015 | 14.46 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.7% |
| 2016 | 14.26 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 14.01 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.7% |
| 2018 | 13.83 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 13.85 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 13.71 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 13.97 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.9% |
Cameroon compared with similar countries
- Cameroon's 13.97 deaths per 100,000 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8.8 deaths per 100,000 people, 1.6× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Cameroon's 13.97 deaths per 100,000 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.73 deaths per 100,000 people, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.73 deaths per 100,000 people | 12.86 deaths per 100,000 people | 14.07 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.28 deaths per 100,000 people | 13.83 deaths per 100,000 people | 14.87 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.84 deaths per 100,000 people | 13.71 deaths per 100,000 people | 13.97 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Cameroon
- 34 Belgium 14.36 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 35 Burundi 14.36 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 36 Angola 14.06 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 38 Malawi 13.94 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 39 United States 13.88 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 40 Sri Lanka 13.28 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for Cameroon
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7821 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 786.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 12,841 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 17 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.22 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0746 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.21 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate in Cameroon?
- Suicide rate in Cameroon was 13.97 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest suicide rate recorded in Cameroon?
- The highest recorded value was 14.87 deaths per 100,000 people in 2014.
- What is the lowest suicide rate recorded in Cameroon?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.86 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does Cameroon rank for suicide rate?
- Cameroon ranks 37th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate rising or falling in Cameroon?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Cameroon data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Suicide rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of age-standardized deaths from self-harm in both sexes, per 100,000 people.