Number of suicides in India
India: Number of suicides was 177,428 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Number of suicides in India, 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 India stood at 177,428 deaths.
The figure is down 2.8% on the previous year and down 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of suicides in India peaked at 202,957 deaths in 2013 and was at its lowest, 163,831 deaths, in 2001.
India ranks 1st of 194 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Number of suicides in India, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 169,781 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 163,831 deaths | -3.5% |
| 2002 | 167,222 deaths | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 168,845 deaths | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 175,885 deaths | +4.2% |
| 2005 | 181,833 deaths | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 186,671 deaths | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 189,407 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 191,325 deaths | +1.0% |
| 2009 | 192,567 deaths | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 197,832 deaths | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 199,850 deaths | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 202,908 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 202,957 deaths | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 198,209 deaths | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 194,088 deaths | -2.1% |
| 2016 | 196,356 deaths | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 201,955 deaths | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 196,577 deaths | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 194,024 deaths | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 182,498 deaths | -5.9% |
| 2021 | 177,428 deaths | -2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 178,737 deaths | 163,831 deaths | 192,567 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 198,476 deaths | 194,024 deaths | 202,957 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 179,963 deaths | 177,428 deaths | 182,498 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near India
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,332 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44,822 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per capita 0.0063 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, annual growth rate 4.42 % 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 0.0048 units per person (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2,149 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of suicides in India?
- Number of suicides in India was 177,428 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 202,957 deaths in 2013.
- What is the lowest number of suicides recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 163,831 deaths in 2001.
- How does India rank for number of suicides?
- India ranks 1st out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of suicides rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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.