Suicide rate, by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Suicide rate, by sex was 8.7 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Suicide rate, by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 8.7 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 7.5% on the previous year and up 15.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate, by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 8.7 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021 and was at its lowest, 6.68 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2007.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 95th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Suicide rate, by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.7 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 7.44 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.4% |
| 2002 | 7.46 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 7.14 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.3% |
| 2004 | 7.3 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.3% |
| 2005 | 7.01 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.0% |
| 2006 | 6.94 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 6.68 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 7.2 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.8% |
| 2009 | 7.12 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 6.97 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 7.53 deaths per 100,000 people | +8.1% |
| 2012 | 7.46 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.9% |
| 2013 | 7.76 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.0% |
| 2014 | 7.58 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.4% |
| 2015 | 7.69 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 7.46 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.0% |
| 2017 | 7.21 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.3% |
| 2018 | 8.33 deaths per 100,000 people | +15.6% |
| 2019 | 8.64 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 8.1 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.3% |
| 2021 | 8.7 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7.2 deaths per 100,000 people | 6.68 deaths per 100,000 people | 7.7 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.66 deaths per 100,000 people | 6.97 deaths per 100,000 people | 8.64 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.4 deaths per 100,000 people | 8.1 deaths per 100,000 people | 8.7 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 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
- 96 Nigeria 8.56 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 97 Fiji 8.5 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 98 Germany 8.15 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.7128 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0247 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.7724 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate, by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Suicide rate, by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 8.7 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 8.7 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021.
- What is the lowest suicide rate, by sex recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.68 deaths per 100,000 people in 2007.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for suicide rate, by sex?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 95th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate, by sex rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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.