Suicide rate, by sex in Zambia
Zambia: Suicide rate, by sex was 12.81 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
12.81 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 11.3%
World rank
44th
of 194 countries
All-time high
13.11 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2000
All-time low
10.23 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2018
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Suicide rate, by sex in Zambia, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 12.81 deaths per 100,000 people for suicide rate, by sex in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.3% on the previous year and up 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate, by sex in Zambia peaked at 13.11 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 10.23 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2018.
Zambia ranks 44th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Suicide rate, by sex in Zambia, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 13.11 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 12.91 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 12.93 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 12.06 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.7% |
| 2004 | 12.31 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 12.01 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.4% |
| 2006 | 12.24 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.9% |
| 2007 | 11.95 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.3% |
| 2008 | 11.78 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 11.47 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.6% |
| 2010 | 11.64 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.5% |
| 2011 | 11.53 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.9% |
| 2012 | 11.29 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2013 | 10.91 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 10.67 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 10.65 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 10.37 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 10.37 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 10.23 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2019 | 10.63 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 11.51 deaths per 100,000 people | +8.3% |
| 2021 | 12.81 deaths per 100,000 people | +11.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.28 deaths per 100,000 people | 11.47 deaths per 100,000 people | 13.11 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.83 deaths per 100,000 people | 10.23 deaths per 100,000 people | 11.64 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.16 deaths per 100,000 people | 11.51 deaths per 100,000 people | 12.81 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 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
- 45 India 12.64 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 46 Finland 12.58 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 47 Estonia 12.41 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for Zambia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.7971 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 809.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,894 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate 3.92 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per capita 0.0248 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 4.33 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per capita 0.02 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate, by sex in Zambia?
- Suicide rate, by sex in Zambia was 12.81 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 13.11 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest suicide rate, by sex recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.23 deaths per 100,000 people in 2018.
- How does Zambia rank for suicide rate, by sex?
- Zambia ranks 44th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate, by sex rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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.