Suicide rate, by age in Rwanda
Rwanda: Suicide rate, by age was 1.23 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2021)
1.23 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 6.1%
World rank
8th
of 194 countries
All-time high
3.31 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2000
All-time low
0.6584 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2012
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Suicide rate, by age in Rwanda, 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 Rwanda is 1.23 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of up 6.1% on the previous year and up 77.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate, by age in Rwanda peaked at 3.31 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 0.6584 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2012.
Rwanda ranks 8th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Suicide rate, by age in Rwanda, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.31 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 2.68 deaths per 100,000 people | -19.0% |
| 2002 | 2.42 deaths per 100,000 people | -9.6% |
| 2003 | 2.04 deaths per 100,000 people | -15.9% |
| 2004 | 1.58 deaths per 100,000 people | -22.3% |
| 2005 | 1.46 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.9% |
| 2006 | 1.13 deaths per 100,000 people | -22.4% |
| 2007 | 1.11 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2008 | 0.949 deaths per 100,000 people | -14.5% |
| 2009 | 0.7929 deaths per 100,000 people | -16.5% |
| 2010 | 0.6981 deaths per 100,000 people | -12.0% |
| 2011 | 0.6906 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 0.6584 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.7% |
| 2013 | 0.6862 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 0.7048 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 0.7378 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 0.7979 deaths per 100,000 people | +8.1% |
| 2017 | 0.871 deaths per 100,000 people | +9.2% |
| 2018 | 0.9093 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 1.09 deaths per 100,000 people | +19.6% |
| 2020 | 1.16 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.4% |
| 2021 | 1.23 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.1% |
Rwanda compared with similar countries
- Rwanda's 1.23 deaths per 100,000 people is above the median for low income countries, which is 0.7346 deaths per 100,000 people, 1.7× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Rwanda's 1.23 deaths per 100,000 people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.5131 deaths per 100,000 people, 2.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.75 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.7929 deaths per 100,000 people | 3.31 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7842 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.6584 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.09 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.19 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.16 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.23 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Rwanda
- 5 Cyprus 1.46 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 6 Singapore 1.45 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 7 Burundi 1.24 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 9 Democratic Republic of Congo 1.18 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 10 Central African Republic 1.16 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 11 Cameroon 1.15 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for Rwanda
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.08 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.891 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 860.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 2,738 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.9441 % 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 0.065 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.9697 % 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 Rwanda?
- Suicide rate, by age in Rwanda was 1.23 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 Rwanda?
- The highest recorded value was 3.31 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest suicide rate, by age recorded in Rwanda?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.6584 deaths per 100,000 people in 2012.
- How does Rwanda rank for suicide rate, by age?
- Rwanda ranks 8th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate, by age rising or falling in Rwanda?
- Over the last ten years it is up 77.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Rwanda 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.