Number of suicides in United States of America
United States of America: Number of suicides was 52,098 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Number of suicides in United States of America, 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 States of America stood at 52,098 deaths. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 4.8% on the previous year and up 24.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of suicides in United States of America peaked at 52,098 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 31,142 deaths, in 2000.
That places United States of America 3rd 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 States of America, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 31,142 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 32,557 deaths | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 33,785 deaths | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 33,791 deaths | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 34,620 deaths | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 34,682 deaths | +0.2% |
| 2006 | 35,440 deaths | +2.2% |
| 2007 | 36,840 deaths | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 38,247 deaths | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 39,161 deaths | +2.4% |
| 2010 | 40,662 deaths | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 41,798 deaths | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 42,879 deaths | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 43,377 deaths | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 45,038 deaths | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 46,433 deaths | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 47,478 deaths | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 49,682 deaths | +4.6% |
| 2018 | 50,814 deaths | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 50,036 deaths | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 49,703 deaths | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 52,098 deaths | +4.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 35,026 deaths | 31,142 deaths | 39,161 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 45,820 deaths | 40,662 deaths | 50,814 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 50,901 deaths | 49,703 deaths | 52,098 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More health data for United States of America
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,069 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,015 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate -1.63 % 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 -1.5 % 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 0.0357 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of suicides in United States of America?
- Number of suicides in United States of America was 52,098 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 States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 52,098 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest number of suicides recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 31,142 deaths in 2000.
- How does United States of America rank for number of suicides?
- United States of America ranks 3rd out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of suicides rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States of America 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.