Suicide rate, by sex in India
India: Suicide rate, by sex was 12.64 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Suicide rate, by sex in India, 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 India is 12.64 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is down 4.3% on the previous year and down 23.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate, by sex in India peaked at 17.56 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 12.64 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2021.
India ranks 45th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Suicide rate, by sex in India, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 17.56 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 16.63 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.3% |
| 2002 | 16.65 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 16.48 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 16.72 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 16.86 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 16.98 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 16.94 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 16.79 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 16.58 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 16.69 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 16.56 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 16.51 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 16.3 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 15.74 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.4% |
| 2015 | 15.19 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.5% |
| 2016 | 15.09 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.6% |
| 2017 | 15.23 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 14.63 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 14.22 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.8% |
| 2020 | 13.21 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.1% |
| 2021 | 12.64 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 16.82 deaths per 100,000 people | 16.48 deaths per 100,000 people | 17.56 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.62 deaths per 100,000 people | 14.22 deaths per 100,000 people | 16.69 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.93 deaths per 100,000 people | 12.64 deaths per 100,000 people | 13.21 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near India
- 42 Rwanda 13.09 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 43 South Sudan 13.03 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 44 Zambia 12.81 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 46 Finland 12.58 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 47 Estonia 12.41 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 48 Republic of Moldova 12.4 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for India
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.12 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.4372 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,332 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 44,822 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 6.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0066 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 7.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0057 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate, by sex in India?
- Suicide rate, by sex in India was 12.64 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 17.56 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest suicide rate, by sex recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.64 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021.
- How does India rank for suicide rate, by sex?
- India ranks 45th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate, by sex rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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.