Suicide rate, by age in Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone: Suicide rate, by age was 5.17 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
5.17 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 23.9%
World rank
127th
of 194 countries
All-time high
5.41 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2018
All-time low
3.07 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2002
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Suicide rate, by age in Sierra Leone, 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 age in Sierra Leone is 5.17 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 23.9% on the previous year and up 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate, by age in Sierra Leone peaked at 5.41 deaths per 100,000 people in 2018 and was at its lowest, 3.07 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2002.
Sierra Leone ranks 127th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Suicide rate, by age in Sierra Leone, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3.14 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 3.21 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.2% |
| 2002 | 3.07 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.3% |
| 2003 | 3.3 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.5% |
| 2004 | 3.78 deaths per 100,000 people | +14.4% |
| 2005 | 3.94 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 4.04 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 4.55 deaths per 100,000 people | +12.8% |
| 2008 | 4.87 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.0% |
| 2009 | 5.05 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 5.22 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.4% |
| 2011 | 5.04 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.4% |
| 2012 | 5.22 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 5.04 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 4.62 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.2% |
| 2015 | 4.77 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 5.25 deaths per 100,000 people | +10.0% |
| 2017 | 5.36 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 5.41 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 5.29 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.1% |
| 2020 | 4.17 deaths per 100,000 people | -21.2% |
| 2021 | 5.17 deaths per 100,000 people | +23.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3.89 deaths per 100,000 people | 3.07 deaths per 100,000 people | 5.05 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.12 deaths per 100,000 people | 4.62 deaths per 100,000 people | 5.41 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.67 deaths per 100,000 people | 4.17 deaths per 100,000 people | 5.17 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sierra Leone
- 124 Seychelles 5.31 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 125 Malaysia 5.3 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 126 China 5.3 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 128 Madagascar 5.14 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 129 Liberia 5.13 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 130 Bulgaria 5.07 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for Sierra Leone
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.34 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.773 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,199 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,209 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 0.8723 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.1868 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 0.8951 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.1897 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate, by age in Sierra Leone?
- Suicide rate, by age in Sierra Leone was 5.17 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 Sierra Leone?
- The highest recorded value was 5.41 deaths per 100,000 people in 2018.
- What is the lowest suicide rate, by age recorded in Sierra Leone?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.07 deaths per 100,000 people in 2002.
- How does Sierra Leone rank for suicide rate, by age?
- Sierra Leone ranks 127th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate, by age rising or falling in Sierra Leone?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sierra Leone 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.