Suicide rate in Malawi
Malawi: Suicide rate was 13.94 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Suicide rate in Malawi, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for suicide rate in Malawi is 13.94 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of up 2.3% on the previous year and up 15.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate in Malawi peaked at 14.5 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 11.97 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2013.
That places Malawi 38th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.42 deaths per 100,000 people | 12.35 deaths per 100,000 people | 14.5 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.48 deaths per 100,000 people | 11.97 deaths per 100,000 people | 13.61 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.78 deaths per 100,000 people | 13.62 deaths per 100,000 people | 13.94 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 35 Burundi 14.36 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 36 Angola 14.06 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 37 Cameroon 13.97 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
- 41 Slovenia 13.24 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for Malawi
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
- Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 193,780 (2025)
- Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 198,476 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 200,046 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 204,753 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 207,829 (2025)
- Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 212,512 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate in Malawi?
- Suicide rate in Malawi was 13.94 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 14.5 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest suicide rate recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.97 deaths per 100,000 people in 2013.
- How does Malawi rank for suicide rate?
- Malawi ranks 38th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi 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.