Suicide rate, by sex in Ghana
Ghana: Suicide rate, by sex was 8 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
8 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
102nd
of 194 countries
All-time high
8.67 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2013
All-time low
5.62 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2000
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Suicide rate, by sex in Ghana, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
Ghana recorded 8 deaths per 100,000 people for suicide rate, by sex in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.2% on the previous year and down 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate, by sex in Ghana peaked at 8.67 deaths per 100,000 people in 2013 and was at its lowest, 5.62 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2000.
Ghana ranks 102nd 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.62 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 6.09 deaths per 100,000 people | +8.5% |
| 2002 | 6.53 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.2% |
| 2003 | 6.98 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 7.36 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.6% |
| 2005 | 7.5 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.8% |
| 2006 | 7.6 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 7.41 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 7.91 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.7% |
| 2009 | 8.44 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.7% |
| 2010 | 8.51 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.8% |
| 2011 | 8.67 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 8.63 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 8.67 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 8.65 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 8.63 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 8.56 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 8.57 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 8.25 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 8.08 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2020 | 7.9 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 8 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.14 deaths per 100,000 people | 5.62 deaths per 100,000 people | 8.44 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.52 deaths per 100,000 people | 8.08 deaths per 100,000 people | 8.67 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.95 deaths per 100,000 people | 7.9 deaths per 100,000 people | 8 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 99 Mali 8.06 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 100 Canada 8.02 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 101 Guinea 8.01 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 103 El Salvador 7.98 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 104 Gambia 7.92 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 105 Costa Rica 7.77 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for Ghana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.37 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6224 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 986.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,361 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 50-54, male, annual growth rate 2.86 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per capita 0.0186 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate 3.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per capita 0.0162 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate, by sex in Ghana?
- Suicide rate, by sex in Ghana was 8 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 Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 8.67 deaths per 100,000 people in 2013.
- What is the lowest suicide rate, by sex recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.62 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does Ghana rank for suicide rate, by sex?
- Ghana ranks 102nd out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate, by sex rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ghana 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.