Suicide rate, by age in United States of America
United States of America: Suicide rate, by age was 19.86 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Suicide rate, by age 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 age in United States of America stood at 19.86 deaths per 100,000 people. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 8.8% on the previous year and up 43.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate, by age in United States of America peaked at 19.86 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021 and was at its lowest, 12.17 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2001.
That places United States of America 23rd out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Suicide rate, by age in United States of America, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 12.55 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 12.17 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 12.64 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 12.51 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 12.9 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.2% |
| 2005 | 12.73 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 12.85 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 12.88 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 12.91 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 12.8 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2010 | 13.68 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.8% |
| 2011 | 13.83 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 14 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 14.03 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 14.53 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.5% |
| 2015 | 15.33 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.6% |
| 2016 | 16.48 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.5% |
| 2017 | 16.35 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 16.56 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 16.38 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 18.25 deaths per 100,000 people | +11.4% |
| 2021 | 19.86 deaths per 100,000 people | +8.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.69 deaths per 100,000 people | 12.17 deaths per 100,000 people | 12.91 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 15.12 deaths per 100,000 people | 13.68 deaths per 100,000 people | 16.56 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.05 deaths per 100,000 people | 18.25 deaths per 100,000 people | 19.86 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
- 20 Eswatini 20.74 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 21 Lesotho 20.4 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 22 Republic of Korea 19.94 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 24 Zimbabwe 19.82 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 25 South Africa 19.53 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 26 Mauritius 19.47 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)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 1.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.028 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 3.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.0251 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate, by age in United States of America?
- Suicide rate, by age in United States of America was 19.86 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 United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 19.86 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021.
- What is the lowest suicide rate, by age recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.17 deaths per 100,000 people in 2001.
- How does United States of America rank for suicide rate, by age?
- United States of America ranks 23rd out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate, by age rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.6%. 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 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.