Suicide rate, by age in Kenya
Kenya: Suicide rate, by age was 0.1685 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Suicide rate, by age in Kenya, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for suicide rate, by age in Kenya is 0.1685 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2021.
The figure is down 11.6% on the previous year and up 114.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate, by age in Kenya peaked at 0.2947 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.0264 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2013.
That places Kenya 131st out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Suicide rate, by age in Kenya, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.2947 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 0.2111 deaths per 100,000 people | -28.4% |
| 2002 | 0.1652 deaths per 100,000 people | -21.7% |
| 2003 | 0.0976 deaths per 100,000 people | -41.0% |
| 2004 | 0.0829 deaths per 100,000 people | -15.1% |
| 2005 | 0.0778 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.2% |
| 2006 | 0.0725 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.7% |
| 2007 | 0.0725 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 0.0725 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 0.0736 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 0.0752 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.2% |
| 2011 | 0.0786 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 0.0806 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 0.0264 deaths per 100,000 people | -67.3% |
| 2014 | 0.081 deaths per 100,000 people | +207.4% |
| 2015 | 0.1046 deaths per 100,000 people | +29.0% |
| 2016 | 0.1359 deaths per 100,000 people | +30.0% |
| 2017 | 0.1872 deaths per 100,000 people | +37.8% |
| 2018 | 0.1538 deaths per 100,000 people | -17.9% |
| 2019 | 0.1556 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 0.1908 deaths per 100,000 people | +22.6% |
| 2021 | 0.1685 deaths per 100,000 people | -11.6% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 0.1685 deaths per 100,000 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.3576 deaths per 100,000 people, 47% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 0.1685 deaths per 100,000 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.5131 deaths per 100,000 people, 33% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Suicide rate, by age in Kenya changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +207.4% | 0.0264 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.081 deaths per 100,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.122 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.0725 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.2947 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1079 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.0264 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.1872 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1796 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.1685 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.1908 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 128 Comoros 0.1833 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 129 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0.176 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 130 Turkey 0.1757 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 132 Eswatini 0.1668 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 133 Cape Verde 0.166 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 134 Albania 0.1657 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for Kenya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6026 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,119 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 16,059 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 89 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0621 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate, by age in Kenya?
- Suicide rate, by age in Kenya was 0.1685 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest suicide rate, by age recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 0.2947 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest suicide rate, by age recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0264 deaths per 100,000 people in 2013.
- How does Kenya rank for suicide rate, by age?
- Kenya ranks 131st out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate, by age rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 114.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Suicide rate, by age. 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 among both sexes aged 0-14 year olds, per 100,000 people.