Reported suicide rates among young people in Australia
Australia: Reported suicide rates among young people was 8.89 deaths per 100,000 population in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
8.89 deaths per 100,000 population
Change on year
up 6.5%
World rank
20th
of 110 countries
All-time high
12.56 deaths per 100,000 population
in 2018
All-time low
2.2 deaths per 100,000 population
in 1956
Years of data
73
1950–2023
Reported suicide rates among young people in Australia, 1950–2023
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 population.
Analysis
Australia recorded 8.89 deaths per 100,000 population for reported suicide rates among young people in 2023.
That represents a change of up 6.5% on the previous year and down 15.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reported suicide rates among young people in Australia peaked at 12.56 deaths per 100,000 population in 2018 and was at its lowest, 2.2 deaths per 100,000 population, in 1956.
That places Australia 20th out of 110 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 73 years of available data.
Reported suicide rates among young people in Australia, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3.26 deaths per 100,000 population | — |
| 1951 | 4.56 deaths per 100,000 population | +39.7% |
| 1952 | 4.82 deaths per 100,000 population | +5.7% |
| 1953 | 3.14 deaths per 100,000 population | -34.8% |
| 1954 | 3.89 deaths per 100,000 population | +23.8% |
| 1955 | 3.59 deaths per 100,000 population | -7.7% |
| 1956 | 2.2 deaths per 100,000 population | -38.7% |
| 1957 | 3.46 deaths per 100,000 population | +57.5% |
| 1958 | 4.09 deaths per 100,000 population | +18.0% |
| 1959 | 3.73 deaths per 100,000 population | -8.8% |
| 1960 | 2.73 deaths per 100,000 population | -26.8% |
| 1961 | 3.83 deaths per 100,000 population | +40.1% |
| 1962 | 3.75 deaths per 100,000 population | -1.9% |
| 1963 | 4.69 deaths per 100,000 population | +25.0% |
| 1964 | 4.42 deaths per 100,000 population | -5.9% |
| 1965 | 4.94 deaths per 100,000 population | +11.7% |
| 1966 | 4.85 deaths per 100,000 population | -1.7% |
| 1967 | 4.38 deaths per 100,000 population | -9.6% |
| 1968 | 5.35 deaths per 100,000 population | +22.0% |
| 1969 | 4.23 deaths per 100,000 population | -20.8% |
| 1970 | 5.53 deaths per 100,000 population | +30.7% |
| 1971 | 9.27 deaths per 100,000 population | +67.5% |
| 1972 | 6.48 deaths per 100,000 population | -30.1% |
| 1973 | 6.46 deaths per 100,000 population | -0.2% |
| 1974 | 7.97 deaths per 100,000 population | +23.4% |
| 1975 | 5.8 deaths per 100,000 population | -27.2% |
| 1976 | 6.49 deaths per 100,000 population | +11.8% |
| 1977 | 7.21 deaths per 100,000 population | +11.2% |
| 1978 | 7.2 deaths per 100,000 population | -0.2% |
| 1979 | 8.3 deaths per 100,000 population | +15.3% |
| 1980 | 6.25 deaths per 100,000 population | -24.7% |
| 1981 | 6.7 deaths per 100,000 population | +7.3% |
| 1982 | 6.66 deaths per 100,000 population | -0.6% |
| 1983 | 5.84 deaths per 100,000 population | -12.3% |
| 1984 | 6.73 deaths per 100,000 population | +15.3% |
| 1985 | 9.63 deaths per 100,000 population | +43.0% |
| 1986 | 9.28 deaths per 100,000 population | -3.6% |
| 1987 | 11.67 deaths per 100,000 population | +25.8% |
| 1988 | 12.47 deaths per 100,000 population | +6.8% |
| 1989 | 11.11 deaths per 100,000 population | -10.9% |
| 1990 | 10.84 deaths per 100,000 population | -2.4% |
| 1991 | 10.48 deaths per 100,000 population | -3.3% |
| 1992 | 12.38 deaths per 100,000 population | +18.1% |
| 1993 | 9.1 deaths per 100,000 population | -26.5% |
| 1994 | 11.26 deaths per 100,000 population | +23.7% |
| 1995 | 8.99 deaths per 100,000 population | -20.2% |
| 1996 | 10.87 deaths per 100,000 population | +20.9% |
| 1997 | 12.28 deaths per 100,000 population | +13.0% |
| 1998 | 11.35 deaths per 100,000 population | -7.6% |
| 1999 | 9.21 deaths per 100,000 population | -18.8% |
| 2000 | 10.1 deaths per 100,000 population | +9.6% |
| 2001 | 8.87 deaths per 100,000 population | -12.1% |
| 2002 | 8.97 deaths per 100,000 population | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 7.7 deaths per 100,000 population | -14.2% |
| 2004 | 6.35 deaths per 100,000 population | -17.5% |
| 2006 | 7.86 deaths per 100,000 population | +23.8% |
| 2007 | 8.01 deaths per 100,000 population | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 6.62 deaths per 100,000 population | -17.4% |
| 2009 | 7.01 deaths per 100,000 population | +5.8% |
| 2010 | 7.74 deaths per 100,000 population | +10.5% |
| 2011 | 8.05 deaths per 100,000 population | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 8.97 deaths per 100,000 population | +11.5% |
| 2013 | 10.5 deaths per 100,000 population | +17.0% |
| 2014 | 9.09 deaths per 100,000 population | -13.4% |
| 2015 | 10.21 deaths per 100,000 population | +12.2% |
| 2016 | 9.35 deaths per 100,000 population | -8.3% |
| 2017 | 11.14 deaths per 100,000 population | +19.0% |
| 2018 | 12.56 deaths per 100,000 population | +12.8% |
| 2019 | 11.64 deaths per 100,000 population | -7.4% |
| 2020 | 11.97 deaths per 100,000 population | +2.9% |
| 2021 | 10.48 deaths per 100,000 population | -12.5% |
| 2022 | 8.35 deaths per 100,000 population | -20.3% |
| 2023 | 8.89 deaths per 100,000 population | +6.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 3.67 deaths per 100,000 population | 2.2 deaths per 100,000 population | 4.82 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 1960s | 4.32 deaths per 100,000 population | 2.73 deaths per 100,000 population | 5.35 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.07 deaths per 100,000 population | 5.53 deaths per 100,000 population | 9.27 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.63 deaths per 100,000 population | 5.84 deaths per 100,000 population | 12.47 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.68 deaths per 100,000 population | 8.99 deaths per 100,000 population | 12.38 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.94 deaths per 100,000 population | 6.35 deaths per 100,000 population | 10.1 deaths per 100,000 population | 9 |
| 2010s | 9.93 deaths per 100,000 population | 7.74 deaths per 100,000 population | 12.56 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.92 deaths per 100,000 population | 8.35 deaths per 100,000 population | 11.97 deaths per 100,000 population | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 17 Argentina 9.39 deaths per 100,000 population compare
- 18 Nicaragua 9.2 deaths per 100,000 population compare
- 19 Mauritius 9.04 deaths per 100,000 population compare
- 21 Hong Kong 8.87 deaths per 100,000 population compare
- 22 Reunion 8.81 deaths per 100,000 population compare
- 23 Iceland 8.64 deaths per 100,000 population compare
More health data for Australia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.9072 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 906.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 215 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 0.6511 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.086 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 0.5937 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.0908 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is reported suicide rates among young people in Australia?
- Reported suicide rates among young people in Australia was 8.89 deaths per 100,000 population in 2023, according to WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest reported suicide rates among young people recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 12.56 deaths per 100,000 population in 2018.
- What is the lowest reported suicide rates among young people recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2 deaths per 100,000 population in 1956.
- How does Australia rank for reported suicide rates among young people?
- Australia ranks 20th out of 110 countries with data for 2023.
- Is reported suicide rates among young people rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Reported suicide rates among young people. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Reported annual death rate from self-inflicted injuries per 100,000 people, based on the underlying cause listed on death certificates.