Suicide rate, by sex in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Suicide rate, by sex was 13.28 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
13.28 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 17.8%
World rank
40th
of 194 countries
All-time high
40.22 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2000
All-time low
11.28 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2020
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Suicide rate, by sex in Sri Lanka, 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 Sri Lanka is 13.28 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 17.8% on the previous year and down 26.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate, by sex in Sri Lanka peaked at 40.22 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 11.28 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2020.
That places Sri Lanka 40th 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 40.22 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 34.51 deaths per 100,000 people | -14.2% |
| 2002 | 30.47 deaths per 100,000 people | -11.7% |
| 2003 | 28.56 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.3% |
| 2004 | 25.51 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.7% |
| 2005 | 25.6 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 24.23 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.3% |
| 2007 | 22.11 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.8% |
| 2008 | 21.27 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2009 | 19.03 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.5% |
| 2010 | 17.33 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.9% |
| 2011 | 18.09 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.3% |
| 2012 | 16.92 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.5% |
| 2013 | 15.63 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.6% |
| 2014 | 14.45 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.5% |
| 2015 | 14.02 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.0% |
| 2016 | 14.18 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 14.1 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 14.22 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 14.59 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.6% |
| 2020 | 11.28 deaths per 100,000 people | -22.7% |
| 2021 | 13.28 deaths per 100,000 people | +17.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 27.15 deaths per 100,000 people | 19.03 deaths per 100,000 people | 40.22 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.35 deaths per 100,000 people | 14.02 deaths per 100,000 people | 18.09 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.28 deaths per 100,000 people | 11.28 deaths per 100,000 people | 13.28 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 37 Cameroon 13.97 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 38 Malawi 13.94 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 39 United States of America 13.88 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 41 Slovenia 13.24 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 42 Rwanda 13.09 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 43 South Sudan 13.03 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for Sri Lanka
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.62 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7332 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,250 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 304 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate -0.8577 % 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 0.0351 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, annual growth rate 0.4036 % 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 0.0343 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate, by sex in Sri Lanka?
- Suicide rate, by sex in Sri Lanka was 13.28 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 40.22 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest suicide rate, by sex recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.28 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for suicide rate, by sex?
- Sri Lanka ranks 40th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate, by sex rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.