Suicide rate, by sex in Australia
Australia: Suicide rate, by sex was 11.76 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
11.76 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
down 0.9%
World rank
55th
of 194 countries
All-time high
12.67 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2019
All-time low
9.7 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2004
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Suicide rate, by sex in Australia, 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 sex in Australia is 11.76 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 0.9% on the previous year and up 13.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate, by sex in Australia peaked at 12.67 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019 and was at its lowest, 9.7 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2004.
Australia ranks 55th 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.
Suicide rate, by sex in Australia, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 11.84 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 12.01 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 11.17 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.0% |
| 2003 | 10.16 deaths per 100,000 people | -9.1% |
| 2004 | 9.7 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.5% |
| 2005 | 10.51 deaths per 100,000 people | +8.4% |
| 2006 | 10.05 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.4% |
| 2007 | 10.39 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 10.93 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.2% |
| 2009 | 10.38 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.0% |
| 2010 | 10.81 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.2% |
| 2011 | 10.36 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.2% |
| 2012 | 10.84 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.7% |
| 2013 | 10.62 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2014 | 11.73 deaths per 100,000 people | +10.4% |
| 2015 | 12.21 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 11.24 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.0% |
| 2017 | 12.49 deaths per 100,000 people | +11.1% |
| 2018 | 12.08 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.3% |
| 2019 | 12.67 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 11.87 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.4% |
| 2021 | 11.76 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.71 deaths per 100,000 people | 9.7 deaths per 100,000 people | 12.01 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.5 deaths per 100,000 people | 10.36 deaths per 100,000 people | 12.67 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.82 deaths per 100,000 people | 11.76 deaths per 100,000 people | 11.87 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 52 Cook Islands 11.92 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 53 Latvia 11.92 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 54 Sweden 11.8 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 56 Guinea-Bissau 11.76 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 57 Botswana 11.71 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 58 Poland 11.54 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for Australia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.9072 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 906.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 215 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 60-64, female, annual growth rate 0.6882 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, female, per capita 0.0292 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, annual growth rate 1.09 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 60-64, male, per capita 0.0277 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate, by sex in Australia?
- Suicide rate, by sex in Australia was 11.76 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 sex recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 12.67 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019.
- What is the lowest suicide rate, by sex recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.7 deaths per 100,000 people in 2004.
- How does Australia rank for suicide rate, by sex?
- Australia ranks 55th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate, by sex rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia 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 sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of age-standardized deaths from self-harm in both sexes, per 100,000 people.