Suicide rate, by age in Malawi
Malawi: Suicide rate, by age was 0.4277 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Suicide rate, by age in Malawi, 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 Malawi is 0.4277 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 9.6% on the previous year and up 197.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate, by age in Malawi peaked at 0.4732 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.0747 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2014.
Malawi ranks 72nd of 194 countries on this measure, 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 Malawi, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.1836 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 0.3116 deaths per 100,000 people | +69.7% |
| 2002 | 0.275 deaths per 100,000 people | -11.7% |
| 2003 | 0.2386 deaths per 100,000 people | -13.2% |
| 2004 | 0.1708 deaths per 100,000 people | -28.4% |
| 2005 | 0.1404 deaths per 100,000 people | -17.8% |
| 2006 | 0.1359 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 0.1317 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 0.1281 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.8% |
| 2009 | 0.13 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 0.1373 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.6% |
| 2011 | 0.1439 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.8% |
| 2012 | 0.1506 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.6% |
| 2013 | 0.2513 deaths per 100,000 people | +66.8% |
| 2014 | 0.0747 deaths per 100,000 people | -70.3% |
| 2015 | 0.1804 deaths per 100,000 people | +141.3% |
| 2016 | 0.3071 deaths per 100,000 people | +70.3% |
| 2017 | 0.3785 deaths per 100,000 people | +23.2% |
| 2018 | 0.4319 deaths per 100,000 people | +14.1% |
| 2019 | 0.469 deaths per 100,000 people | +8.6% |
| 2020 | 0.4732 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.9% |
| 2021 | 0.4277 deaths per 100,000 people | -9.6% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 0.4277 deaths per 100,000 people is below the median for low income countries, which is 0.7346 deaths per 100,000 people, 58% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 0.4277 deaths per 100,000 people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.5131 deaths per 100,000 people, 83% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Suicide rate, by age in Malawi 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +141.3% | 0.0747 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.1804 deaths per 100,000 people |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.1846 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.1281 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.3116 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.2525 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.0747 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.469 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.4505 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.4277 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.4732 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 69 Ukraine 0.4652 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 70 Pakistan 0.4538 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 71 Tanzania 0.4401 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 73 Guinea-Bissau 0.4211 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 74 Finland 0.4192 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 75 Denmark 0.3959 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0714 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate, by age in Malawi?
- Suicide rate, by age in Malawi was 0.4277 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 0.4732 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020.
- What is the lowest suicide rate, by age recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0747 deaths per 100,000 people in 2014.
- How does Malawi rank for suicide rate, by age?
- Malawi ranks 72nd out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate, by age rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 197.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malawi 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.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from self-harm among both sexes aged 0-14 year olds, per 100,000 people.