Number of suicides in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Number of suicides was 518.26 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Number of suicides in Sierra Leone, 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 Sierra Leone stood at 518.26 deaths. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 16.0% on the previous year and up 35.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of suicides in Sierra Leone peaked at 518.26 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 210.36 deaths, in 2000.
That places Sierra Leone 100th 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 Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 210.36 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 226.71 deaths | +7.8% |
| 2002 | 256.7 deaths | +13.2% |
| 2003 | 274.48 deaths | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 291.28 deaths | +6.1% |
| 2005 | 304.48 deaths | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 310.04 deaths | +1.8% |
| 2007 | 333.77 deaths | +7.7% |
| 2008 | 349.96 deaths | +4.9% |
| 2009 | 364.57 deaths | +4.2% |
| 2010 | 382.5 deaths | +4.9% |
| 2011 | 383 deaths | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 397.49 deaths | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 395.69 deaths | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 392.32 deaths | -0.9% |
| 2015 | 405.93 deaths | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 441.94 deaths | +8.9% |
| 2017 | 464.83 deaths | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 486.42 deaths | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 496.34 deaths | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 446.73 deaths | -10.0% |
| 2021 | 518.26 deaths | +16.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 292.24 deaths | 210.36 deaths | 364.57 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 424.65 deaths | 382.5 deaths | 496.34 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 482.5 deaths | 446.73 deaths | 518.26 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 97 New Zealand 611.59 deaths compare
- 98 Slovakia 541.13 deaths compare
- 99 Central African Republic 540.62 deaths compare
- 101 Peru 509.9 deaths compare
- 102 Singapore 501.26 deaths compare
- 103 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 494.78 deaths compare
More health data for Sierra Leone
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,199 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,209 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate 3.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0106 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 3.8 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.0095 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of suicides in Sierra Leone?
- Number of suicides in Sierra Leone was 518.26 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 518.26 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest number of suicides recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 210.36 deaths in 2000.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for number of suicides?
- Sierra Leone ranks 100th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of suicides rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.