Number of suicides in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Number of suicides was 3,175 deaths in 2021. ▼ Falling
Number of suicides in Sri Lanka, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 3,175 deaths for number of suicides in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 18.9% on the previous year and down 16.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of suicides in Sri Lanka peaked at 7,439 deaths in 2000 and was at its lowest, 2,671 deaths, in 2020.
Sri Lanka ranks 32nd of 194 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Number of suicides in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7,439 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 6,495 deaths | -12.7% |
| 2002 | 5,807 deaths | -10.6% |
| 2003 | 5,506 deaths | -5.2% |
| 2004 | 4,959 deaths | -9.9% |
| 2005 | 5,041 deaths | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 4,837 deaths | -4.0% |
| 2007 | 4,457 deaths | -7.9% |
| 2008 | 4,334 deaths | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 3,911 deaths | -9.8% |
| 2010 | 3,600 deaths | -8.0% |
| 2011 | 3,797 deaths | +5.5% |
| 2012 | 3,595 deaths | -5.3% |
| 2013 | 3,377 deaths | -6.1% |
| 2014 | 3,178 deaths | -5.9% |
| 2015 | 3,135 deaths | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 3,207 deaths | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 3,236 deaths | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 3,300 deaths | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 3,412 deaths | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 2,671 deaths | -21.7% |
| 2021 | 3,175 deaths | +18.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5,279 deaths | 3,911 deaths | 7,439 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,384 deaths | 3,135 deaths | 3,797 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 2,923 deaths | 2,671 deaths | 3,175 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More health data for Sri Lanka
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.62 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7332 % 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 1 304 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate -0.693 % 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 0.0274 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate -0.5696 % 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 0.0233 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of suicides in Sri Lanka?
- Number of suicides in Sri Lanka was 3,175 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 7,439 deaths in 2000.
- What is the lowest number of suicides recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,671 deaths in 2020.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for number of suicides?
- Sri Lanka ranks 32nd out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of suicides rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated number of deaths from self-harm in both sexes.