Suicide rate, by sex in United States of America
United States of America: Suicide rate, by sex was 13.88 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Suicide rate, by sex in United States of America, 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 United States of America stood at 13.88 deaths per 100,000 people. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.0% on the previous year and up 17.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate, by sex in United States of America peaked at 13.88 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021 and was at its lowest, 9.98 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2000.
United States of America ranks 39th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Suicide rate, by sex in United States of America, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 9.98 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 10.32 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 10.55 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.3% |
| 2003 | 10.44 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.1% |
| 2004 | 10.62 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 10.47 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.4% |
| 2006 | 10.59 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 10.87 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 11.15 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 11.28 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 11.6 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 11.82 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.9% |
| 2012 | 11.98 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 11.97 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.1% |
| 2014 | 12.3 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.8% |
| 2015 | 12.62 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 12.84 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 13.39 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.3% |
| 2018 | 13.51 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 13.19 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.4% |
| 2020 | 13.22 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.2% |
| 2021 | 13.88 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.63 deaths per 100,000 people | 9.98 deaths per 100,000 people | 11.28 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.52 deaths per 100,000 people | 11.6 deaths per 100,000 people | 13.51 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.55 deaths per 100,000 people | 13.22 deaths per 100,000 people | 13.88 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
- 36 Angola 14.06 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 37 Cameroon 13.97 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 38 Malawi 13.94 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
- 42 Rwanda 13.09 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for United States of America
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,069 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,015 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2023)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.056 % 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 0.0261 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.1919 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate, by sex in United States of America?
- Suicide rate, by sex in United States of America was 13.88 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 States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 13.88 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021.
- What is the lowest suicide rate, by sex recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.98 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does United States of America rank for suicide rate, by sex?
- United States of America ranks 39th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate, by sex rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States of America 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.