Suicide rate in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Suicide rate was 18.78 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
18.78 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
17th
of 194 countries
All-time high
21.28 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2000
All-time low
18.28 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2020
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Suicide rate in Vanuatu, 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 Vanuatu is 18.78 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and down 4.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate in Vanuatu peaked at 21.28 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 18.28 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2020.
That places Vanuatu 17th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Suicide rate in Vanuatu, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 21.28 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 21.05 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 20.74 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 20.54 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 20.21 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 19.92 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 20.34 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 20.04 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 19.69 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.7% |
| 2009 | 19.87 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.9% |
| 2010 | 19.44 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 19.6 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.8% |
| 2012 | 19.65 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 19.37 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2014 | 18.9 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 18.91 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 18.79 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 18.87 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 18.89 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 19 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 18.28 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2021 | 18.78 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.8% |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries
- Vanuatu's 18.78 deaths per 100,000 people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 8.8 deaths per 100,000 people, 2.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Vanuatu's 18.78 deaths per 100,000 people is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 9.83 deaths per 100,000 people, 1.9× the median. (30 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 20.37 deaths per 100,000 people | 19.69 deaths per 100,000 people | 21.28 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.14 deaths per 100,000 people | 18.79 deaths per 100,000 people | 19.65 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.53 deaths per 100,000 people | 18.28 deaths per 100,000 people | 18.78 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
- 14 Mozambique 20.15 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 15 Mongolia 19.86 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 16 Marshall Islands 19.03 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 18 Kiribati 18.47 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 19 Cape Verde 17.99 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 20 Russia 17.82 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for Vanuatu
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.22 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.8846 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 695.7 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.3888 % 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 0.0639 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.395 % 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 Vanuatu?
- Suicide rate in Vanuatu was 18.78 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 Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 21.28 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest suicide rate recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.28 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020.
- How does Vanuatu rank for suicide rate?
- Vanuatu ranks 17th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate rising or falling in Vanuatu?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Vanuatu 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.