Number of suicides in Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Number of suicides was 1,454 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Number of suicides in Afghanistan, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
Afghanistan recorded 1,454 deaths for number of suicides in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.9% on the previous year and up 35.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of suicides in Afghanistan peaked at 1,454 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 858.5 deaths, in 2000.
That places Afghanistan 60th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Number of suicides in Afghanistan, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 858.5 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 870.15 deaths | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 900.94 deaths | +3.5% |
| 2003 | 967.23 deaths | +7.4% |
| 2004 | 1,004 deaths | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 1,025 deaths | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 1,036 deaths | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 1,024 deaths | -1.2% |
| 2008 | 1,012 deaths | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 996.22 deaths | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 1,004 deaths | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 1,074 deaths | +7.0% |
| 2012 | 1,113 deaths | +3.6% |
| 2013 | 1,146 deaths | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 1,169 deaths | +2.0% |
| 2015 | 1,179 deaths | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 1,208 deaths | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 1,274 deaths | +5.5% |
| 2018 | 1,312 deaths | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 1,340 deaths | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 1,372 deaths | +2.4% |
| 2021 | 1,454 deaths | +5.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 969.38 deaths | 858.5 deaths | 1,036 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,182 deaths | 1,004 deaths | 1,340 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,413 deaths | 1,372 deaths | 1,454 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near Afghanistan
More health data for Afghanistan
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.45 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 1.03 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 812.4 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 14,735 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate 4 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0081 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 4.78 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.0067 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of suicides in Afghanistan?
- Number of suicides in Afghanistan was 1,454 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of suicides recorded in Afghanistan?
- The highest recorded value was 1,454 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest number of suicides recorded in Afghanistan?
- The lowest recorded value was 858.5 deaths in 2000.
- How does Afghanistan rank for number of suicides?
- Afghanistan ranks 60th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of suicides rising or falling in Afghanistan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Afghanistan data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of suicides. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from self-harm in both sexes.