Number of suicides in Ghana
Ghana: Number of suicides was 1,717 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Number of suicides in Ghana, 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 Ghana stood at 1,717 deaths. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.8% on the previous year and up 23.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of suicides in Ghana peaked at 1,717 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 663.44 deaths, in 2000.
Ghana ranks 52nd of 194 countries on this measure, 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 663.44 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 732.12 deaths | +10.4% |
| 2002 | 798.39 deaths | +9.1% |
| 2003 | 875.52 deaths | +9.7% |
| 2004 | 951.95 deaths | +8.7% |
| 2005 | 996.34 deaths | +4.7% |
| 2006 | 1,043 deaths | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 1,056 deaths | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 1,159 deaths | +9.8% |
| 2009 | 1,274 deaths | +9.9% |
| 2010 | 1,317 deaths | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 1,391 deaths | +5.7% |
| 2012 | 1,427 deaths | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 1,478 deaths | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 1,520 deaths | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 1,562 deaths | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 1,598 deaths | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 1,648 deaths | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 1,626 deaths | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 1,643 deaths | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 1,609 deaths | -2.1% |
| 2021 | 1,717 deaths | +6.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 954.98 deaths | 663.44 deaths | 1,274 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,521 deaths | 1,317 deaths | 1,648 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,663 deaths | 1,609 deaths | 1,717 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More health data for Ghana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.37 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6224 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 986.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,361 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 4.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.0076 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 3.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.0057 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of suicides in Ghana?
- Number of suicides in Ghana was 1,717 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 1,717 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest number of suicides recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 663.44 deaths in 2000.
- How does Ghana rank for number of suicides?
- Ghana ranks 52nd out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of suicides rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ghana 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.