Suicide rate, by sex in China
China: Suicide rate, by sex was 6.82 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Suicide rate, by sex in China, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
In 2021, suicide rate, by sex in China stood at 6.82 deaths per 100,000 people. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and down 22.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate, by sex in China peaked at 16.27 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 6.82 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2021.
That places China 120th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Suicide rate, by sex in China, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 16.27 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 15.68 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.7% |
| 2002 | 15.19 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.1% |
| 2003 | 15.01 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.2% |
| 2004 | 14.75 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 13.74 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.9% |
| 2006 | 12.32 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.3% |
| 2007 | 11.32 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.1% |
| 2008 | 10.66 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.9% |
| 2009 | 10.09 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.3% |
| 2010 | 9.49 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.0% |
| 2011 | 8.8 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.2% |
| 2012 | 8.18 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.1% |
| 2013 | 7.77 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.0% |
| 2014 | 7.5 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.5% |
| 2015 | 7.27 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.1% |
| 2016 | 7.15 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 7.05 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2018 | 7.04 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 6.96 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 6.89 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2021 | 6.82 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.5 deaths per 100,000 people | 10.09 deaths per 100,000 people | 16.27 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.72 deaths per 100,000 people | 6.96 deaths per 100,000 people | 9.49 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.86 deaths per 100,000 people | 6.82 deaths per 100,000 people | 6.89 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near China
- 117 Brazil 7.03 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 118 Kyrgyzstan 6.99 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 119 Mexico 6.88 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 121 Chile 6.81 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 122 Paraguay 6.57 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 123 Bulgaria 6.34 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for China
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.15 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.0985 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate -5.47 % 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 0.0236 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.79 % 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 0.025 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate, by sex in China?
- Suicide rate, by sex in China was 6.82 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 16.27 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest suicide rate, by sex recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.82 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021.
- How does China rank for suicide rate, by sex?
- China ranks 120th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate, by sex rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China 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.