Suicide rate, by sex in Kenya
Kenya: Suicide rate, by sex was 8.9 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▬ Flat
Latest (2021)
8.9 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
down 14.3%
World rank
91st
of 194 countries
All-time high
11.47 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2010
All-time low
8.9 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2021
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Suicide rate, by sex in Kenya, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
Kenya recorded 8.9 deaths per 100,000 people for suicide rate, by sex in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is down 14.3% on the previous year and down 20.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate, by sex in Kenya peaked at 11.47 deaths per 100,000 people in 2010 and was at its lowest, 8.9 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2021.
That places Kenya 91st out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
Suicide rate, by sex in Kenya, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 10 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 9.87 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2002 | 10.32 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.6% |
| 2003 | 10.28 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 10.29 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 10.43 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 10.52 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 10.9 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.6% |
| 2008 | 11.04 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 11.16 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.1% |
| 2010 | 11.47 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 11.14 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 9.66 deaths per 100,000 people | -13.2% |
| 2013 | 9.6 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 9.17 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 9.62 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 9.3 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 10.23 deaths per 100,000 people | +10.0% |
| 2018 | 11.41 deaths per 100,000 people | +11.6% |
| 2019 | 11.03 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 10.38 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.9% |
| 2021 | 8.9 deaths per 100,000 people | -14.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.48 deaths per 100,000 people | 9.87 deaths per 100,000 people | 11.16 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.26 deaths per 100,000 people | 9.17 deaths per 100,000 people | 11.47 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.64 deaths per 100,000 people | 8.9 deaths per 100,000 people | 10.38 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
- 88 Equatorial Guinea 9.18 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 89 Netherlands 9 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 90 Uzbekistan 8.91 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 92 Niger 8.84 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 93 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 8.82 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 94 Comoros 8.78 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for Kenya
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.44 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6026 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,119 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 16,059 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 5.45 % 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 0.0058 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.98 % 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 0.0043 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate, by sex in Kenya?
- Suicide rate, by sex in Kenya was 8.9 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 Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 11.47 deaths per 100,000 people in 2010.
- What is the lowest suicide rate, by sex recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.9 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021.
- How does Kenya rank for suicide rate, by sex?
- Kenya ranks 91st out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate, by sex rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Kenya 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated number of age-standardized deaths from self-harm in both sexes, per 100,000 people.