Number of suicides in Zambia
Zambia: Number of suicides was 1,359 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Number of suicides in Zambia, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 1,359 deaths for number of suicides in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of up 22.2% on the previous year and up 66.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of suicides in Zambia peaked at 1,359 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 629.6 deaths, in 2003.
Zambia ranks 65th of 194 countries on this measure, 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 Zambia, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 656.42 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 655.01 deaths | -0.2% |
| 2002 | 686.99 deaths | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 629.6 deaths | -8.4% |
| 2004 | 678 deaths | +7.7% |
| 2005 | 672.05 deaths | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 737.3 deaths | +9.7% |
| 2007 | 748.87 deaths | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 763.31 deaths | +1.9% |
| 2009 | 758.6 deaths | -0.6% |
| 2010 | 805.58 deaths | +6.2% |
| 2011 | 818.25 deaths | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 827.39 deaths | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 863.94 deaths | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 870.16 deaths | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 908.75 deaths | +4.4% |
| 2016 | 908.16 deaths | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 955.63 deaths | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 964.89 deaths | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 1,038 deaths | +7.6% |
| 2020 | 1,112 deaths | +7.1% |
| 2021 | 1,359 deaths | +22.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 698.62 deaths | 629.6 deaths | 763.31 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 896.07 deaths | 805.58 deaths | 1,038 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,235 deaths | 1,112 deaths | 1,359 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 6.95 % 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 0.0041 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 5.53 % 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 0.0035 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of suicides in Zambia?
- Number of suicides in Zambia was 1,359 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 1,359 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest number of suicides recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 629.6 deaths in 2003.
- How does Zambia rank for number of suicides?
- Zambia ranks 65th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of suicides rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 66.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia 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.