Number of suicides in China
China: Number of suicides was 127,268 deaths in 2021. ▼ Falling
Number of suicides in China, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
In 2021, number of suicides in China stood at 127,268 deaths.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.4% on the previous year and down 5.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of suicides in China peaked at 194,600 deaths in 2000 and was at its lowest, 120,848 deaths, in 2015.
That places China 2nd 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.
Number of suicides in China, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 194,600 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 191,531 deaths | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 190,156 deaths | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 192,530 deaths | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 193,588 deaths | +0.5% |
| 2005 | 184,665 deaths | -4.6% |
| 2006 | 170,146 deaths | -7.9% |
| 2007 | 160,246 deaths | -5.8% |
| 2008 | 153,772 deaths | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 148,094 deaths | -3.7% |
| 2010 | 142,183 deaths | -4.0% |
| 2011 | 134,896 deaths | -5.1% |
| 2012 | 128,205 deaths | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 124,505 deaths | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 122,427 deaths | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 120,848 deaths | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 120,984 deaths | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 121,281 deaths | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 123,106 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 124,190 deaths | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 125,478 deaths | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 127,268 deaths | +1.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 177,933 deaths | 148,094 deaths | 194,600 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 126,262 deaths | 120,848 deaths | 142,183 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 126,373 deaths | 125,478 deaths | 127,268 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near China
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per capita 0.016 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, annual growth rate 3.29 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per capita 0.0101 units per person (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 33,364 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of suicides in China?
- Number of suicides in China was 127,268 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 194,600 deaths in 2000.
- What is the lowest number of suicides recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 120,848 deaths in 2015.
- How does China rank for number of suicides?
- China ranks 2nd out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of suicides rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China 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.