Suicide rate, by sex in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Suicide rate, by sex was 1.64 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
1.64 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
down 3.8%
World rank
182nd
of 194 countries
All-time high
4.51 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2002
All-time low
1.52 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2013
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Suicide rate, by sex in Saudi Arabia, 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 Saudi Arabia stood at 1.64 deaths per 100,000 people.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.8% on the previous year and down 7.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate, by sex in Saudi Arabia peaked at 4.51 deaths per 100,000 people in 2002 and was at its lowest, 1.52 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2013.
That places Saudi Arabia 182nd out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Suicide rate, by sex in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4.38 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 4.47 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 4.51 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 4.33 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 4.07 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.1% |
| 2005 | 3.79 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.9% |
| 2006 | 3.48 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.2% |
| 2007 | 3.09 deaths per 100,000 people | -11.3% |
| 2008 | 2.72 deaths per 100,000 people | -12.0% |
| 2009 | 2.4 deaths per 100,000 people | -11.8% |
| 2010 | 2.08 deaths per 100,000 people | -13.0% |
| 2011 | 1.76 deaths per 100,000 people | -15.3% |
| 2012 | 1.56 deaths per 100,000 people | -11.8% |
| 2013 | 1.52 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.5% |
| 2014 | 1.58 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 1.56 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 1.6 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 1.75 deaths per 100,000 people | +9.2% |
| 2018 | 1.82 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.4% |
| 2019 | 1.8 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 1.7 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.7% |
| 2021 | 1.64 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.72 deaths per 100,000 people | 2.4 deaths per 100,000 people | 4.51 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.7 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.52 deaths per 100,000 people | 2.08 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.67 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.64 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.7 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 179 Armenia 1.82 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 180 United Arab Emirates 1.7 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 181 Jamaica 1.65 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 183 Azerbaijan 1.56 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 184 Peru 1.53 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 185 Antigua and Barbuda 1.41 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for Saudi Arabia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8373 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.3736 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 483.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 829 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate 4.09 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per capita 0.0396 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, annual growth rate 1.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per capita 0.0762 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate, by sex in Saudi Arabia?
- Suicide rate, by sex in Saudi Arabia was 1.64 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 Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 4.51 deaths per 100,000 people in 2002.
- What is the lowest suicide rate, by sex recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.52 deaths per 100,000 people in 2013.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for suicide rate, by sex?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 182nd out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate, by sex rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.