Suicide rate, by sex in Malawi
Malawi: Suicide rate, by sex was 13.94 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
13.94 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 2.3%
World rank
38th
of 194 countries
All-time high
14.5 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2000
All-time low
11.97 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2013
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Suicide rate, by sex in Malawi, 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 Malawi is 13.94 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 2.3% on the previous year and up 15.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate, by sex in Malawi peaked at 14.5 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 11.97 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2013.
That places Malawi 38th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Suicide rate, by sex in Malawi, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 14.5 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 13.82 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.7% |
| 2002 | 13.52 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.2% |
| 2003 | 13.84 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 13.44 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.9% |
| 2005 | 13.13 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.3% |
| 2006 | 13.79 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.0% |
| 2007 | 13.4 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 12.42 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.3% |
| 2009 | 12.35 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 12.07 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.3% |
| 2011 | 12.08 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 12.09 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 11.97 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 12 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 12.3 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 12.56 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 12.99 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 13.13 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 13.61 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 13.62 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 13.94 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.42 deaths per 100,000 people | 12.35 deaths per 100,000 people | 14.5 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.48 deaths per 100,000 people | 11.97 deaths per 100,000 people | 13.61 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.78 deaths per 100,000 people | 13.62 deaths per 100,000 people | 13.94 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 35 Burundi 14.36 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 36 Angola 14.06 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 37 Cameroon 13.97 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 39 United States 13.88 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 40 Sri Lanka 13.28 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 41 Slovenia 13.24 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate -0.6462 % 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 0.003 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate -0.9187 % 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 0.0019 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate, by sex in Malawi?
- Suicide rate, by sex in Malawi was 13.94 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 14.5 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest suicide rate, by sex recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.97 deaths per 100,000 people in 2013.
- How does Malawi rank for suicide rate, by sex?
- Malawi ranks 38th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate, by sex rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi 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.