Suicide rate in Namibia
Namibia: Suicide rate was 10.19 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
10.19 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
down 1.9%
World rank
74th
of 194 countries
All-time high
14.74 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2003
All-time low
10.19 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2021
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Suicide rate in Namibia, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
Namibia recorded 10.19 deaths per 100,000 people for suicide rate in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is down 1.9% on the previous year and down 13.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate in Namibia peaked at 14.74 deaths per 100,000 people in 2003 and was at its lowest, 10.19 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2021.
That places Namibia 74th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Suicide rate in Namibia, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 14.02 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 13.98 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 14.6 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 14.74 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 14.45 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 14.16 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 13.46 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.9% |
| 2007 | 12.79 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.0% |
| 2008 | 12.28 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 11.4 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.1% |
| 2010 | 11.1 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.7% |
| 2011 | 11.72 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.6% |
| 2012 | 11.37 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.9% |
| 2013 | 11.35 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 12.01 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.8% |
| 2015 | 11.75 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.2% |
| 2016 | 10.33 deaths per 100,000 people | -12.1% |
| 2017 | 10.94 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.9% |
| 2018 | 10.39 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.0% |
| 2019 | 10.3 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 10.39 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 10.19 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.9% |
Namibia compared with similar countries
- Namibia's 10.19 deaths per 100,000 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8.8 deaths per 100,000 people, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Namibia's 10.19 deaths per 100,000 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.73 deaths per 100,000 people, 95% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.59 deaths per 100,000 people | 11.4 deaths per 100,000 people | 14.74 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.13 deaths per 100,000 people | 10.3 deaths per 100,000 people | 12.01 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.29 deaths per 100,000 people | 10.19 deaths per 100,000 people | 10.39 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Namibia
- 71 Czechia 10.31 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 72 Chad 10.27 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 73 Uganda 10.23 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 75 Sierra Leone 10.11 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 76 Austria 10.09 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 77 Madagascar 10.07 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for Namibia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.75 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6445 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,046 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 561 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2024)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -1.83 % 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 0.0644 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -1.56 % 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 Namibia?
- Suicide rate in Namibia was 10.19 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 Namibia?
- The highest recorded value was 14.74 deaths per 100,000 people in 2003.
- What is the lowest suicide rate recorded in Namibia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.19 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021.
- How does Namibia rank for suicide rate?
- Namibia ranks 74th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate rising or falling in Namibia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Namibia 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.