Number of suicides in Malaysia
Malaysia: Number of suicides was 1,894 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Number of suicides in Malaysia, 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 Malaysia stood at 1,894 deaths. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 32.4% on the previous year and up 48.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of suicides in Malaysia peaked at 1,894 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1,003 deaths, in 2001.
Malaysia ranks 48th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Number of suicides in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1,016 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 1,003 deaths | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 1,015 deaths | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 1,083 deaths | +6.7% |
| 2004 | 1,110 deaths | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 1,112 deaths | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 1,109 deaths | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 1,121 deaths | +1.0% |
| 2008 | 1,188 deaths | +6.0% |
| 2009 | 1,244 deaths | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 1,264 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 1,277 deaths | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 1,245 deaths | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 1,247 deaths | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 1,321 deaths | +6.0% |
| 2015 | 1,494 deaths | +13.1% |
| 2016 | 1,552 deaths | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 1,630 deaths | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 1,708 deaths | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 1,764 deaths | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 1,430 deaths | -18.9% |
| 2021 | 1,894 deaths | +32.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,100 deaths | 1,003 deaths | 1,244 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,450 deaths | 1,245 deaths | 1,764 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,662 deaths | 1,430 deaths | 1,894 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 45 Belgium 2,132 deaths compare
- 46 Netherlands 2,014 deaths compare
- 47 Côte d'Ivoire 1,972 deaths compare
- 49 Burkina Faso 1,858 deaths compare
- 50 Romania 1,849 deaths compare
- 51 Madagascar 1,801 deaths compare
More health data for Malaysia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.9119 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.2888 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,250 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 652 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 3.98 % 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 0.0153 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.94 % 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 0.0118 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of suicides in Malaysia?
- Number of suicides in Malaysia was 1,894 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 Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 1,894 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest number of suicides recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,003 deaths in 2001.
- How does Malaysia rank for number of suicides?
- Malaysia ranks 48th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of suicides rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 48.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Malaysia 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.