Number of suicides in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Number of suicides was 6,442 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Number of suicides in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 6,442 deaths. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 7.4% on the previous year and up 21.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of suicides in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 6,442 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 4,643 deaths, in 2007.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 19th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Number of suicides in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5,023 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 4,883 deaths | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 4,928 deaths | +0.9% |
| 2003 | 4,784 deaths | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 4,947 deaths | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 4,792 deaths | -3.1% |
| 2006 | 4,784 deaths | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 4,643 deaths | -2.9% |
| 2008 | 4,996 deaths | +7.6% |
| 2009 | 4,976 deaths | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 4,927 deaths | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 5,308 deaths | +7.7% |
| 2012 | 5,312 deaths | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 5,658 deaths | +6.5% |
| 2014 | 5,517 deaths | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 5,655 deaths | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 5,447 deaths | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 5,301 deaths | -2.7% |
| 2018 | 6,113 deaths | +15.3% |
| 2019 | 6,305 deaths | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 5,997 deaths | -4.9% |
| 2021 | 6,442 deaths | +7.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4,876 deaths | 4,643 deaths | 5,023 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 5,554 deaths | 4,927 deaths | 6,305 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 6,220 deaths | 5,997 deaths | 6,442 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More health data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate -0.7278 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per capita 0.0333 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, annual growth rate -0.1504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per capita 0.0344 units per person (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of suicides in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Number of suicides in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 6,442 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 6,442 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest number of suicides recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,643 deaths in 2007.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for number of suicides?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 19th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of suicides rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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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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.