Suicide rate, by age in New Zealand
New Zealand: Suicide rate, by age was 16.33 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
16.33 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 7.3%
World rank
35th
of 194 countries
All-time high
27.01 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2001
All-time low
15.22 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2020
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Suicide rate, by age in New Zealand, 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 age in New Zealand stood at 16.33 deaths per 100,000 people.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.3% on the previous year and down 22.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate, by age in New Zealand peaked at 27.01 deaths per 100,000 people in 2001 and was at its lowest, 15.22 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2020.
That places New Zealand 35th 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 age in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 22.81 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 27.01 deaths per 100,000 people | +18.4% |
| 2002 | 21.61 deaths per 100,000 people | -20.0% |
| 2003 | 16.95 deaths per 100,000 people | -21.5% |
| 2004 | 22.64 deaths per 100,000 people | +33.6% |
| 2005 | 22.83 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 20.32 deaths per 100,000 people | -11.0% |
| 2007 | 18.37 deaths per 100,000 people | -9.6% |
| 2008 | 20.8 deaths per 100,000 people | +13.2% |
| 2009 | 17.03 deaths per 100,000 people | -18.1% |
| 2010 | 18.9 deaths per 100,000 people | +10.9% |
| 2011 | 21.13 deaths per 100,000 people | +11.8% |
| 2012 | 22.16 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 18.98 deaths per 100,000 people | -14.3% |
| 2014 | 15.63 deaths per 100,000 people | -17.6% |
| 2015 | 16.24 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.9% |
| 2016 | 19.65 deaths per 100,000 people | +21.0% |
| 2017 | 20.52 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 16.41 deaths per 100,000 people | -20.1% |
| 2019 | 16.94 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.3% |
| 2020 | 15.22 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.1% |
| 2021 | 16.33 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 21.04 deaths per 100,000 people | 16.95 deaths per 100,000 people | 27.01 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.66 deaths per 100,000 people | 15.63 deaths per 100,000 people | 22.16 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.77 deaths per 100,000 people | 15.22 deaths per 100,000 people | 16.33 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 32 Estonia 17.09 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 33 Finland 16.68 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 34 Kazakhstan 16.34 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 36 Australia 16.29 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 37 India 16.17 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 38 Nepal 16.04 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for New Zealand
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.94 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4815 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,116 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 33 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 40-44, male, annual growth rate 1.53 % 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 0.0317 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 0.0095 % 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 0.0297 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate, by age in New Zealand?
- Suicide rate, by age in New Zealand was 16.33 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 age recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 27.01 deaths per 100,000 people in 2001.
- What is the lowest suicide rate, by age recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.22 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020.
- How does New Zealand rank for suicide rate, by age?
- New Zealand ranks 35th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate, by age rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand 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 age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from self-harm among both sexes aged 20-24 year olds, per 100,000 people.