Number of suicides in Malawi
Malawi: Number of suicides was 1,484 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Number of suicides in Malawi, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of suicides in Malawi is 1,484 deaths, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 9.3% on the previous year and up 48.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of suicides in Malawi peaked at 1,484 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 874.76 deaths, in 2001.
That places Malawi 58th 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 Malawi, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 878.16 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 874.76 deaths | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 885.57 deaths | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 948.26 deaths | +7.1% |
| 2004 | 933.32 deaths | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 977.82 deaths | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 1,037 deaths | +6.1% |
| 2007 | 1,035 deaths | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 972.63 deaths | -6.0% |
| 2009 | 982.11 deaths | +1.0% |
| 2010 | 982.14 deaths | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 1,001 deaths | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 1,017 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 1,038 deaths | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 1,054 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 1,104 deaths | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 1,155 deaths | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 1,222 deaths | +5.8% |
| 2018 | 1,273 deaths | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 1,361 deaths | +6.9% |
| 2020 | 1,358 deaths | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 1,484 deaths | +9.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 952.47 deaths | 874.76 deaths | 1,037 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,121 deaths | 982.14 deaths | 1,361 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,421 deaths | 1,358 deaths | 1,484 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 80 and above, female, per capita 0.003 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, annual growth rate 2.11 % 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 0.0015 units per person (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2020)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of suicides in Malawi?
- Number of suicides in Malawi was 1,484 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 1,484 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest number of suicides recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 874.76 deaths in 2001.
- How does Malawi rank for number of suicides?
- Malawi ranks 58th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of suicides rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malawi 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.