Reported suicide rates by age in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Reported suicide rates by age was 5.96 deaths per 100,000 population in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
5.96 deaths per 100,000 population
Change on year
up 21.9%
World rank
44th
of 110 countries
All-time high
5.96 deaths per 100,000 population
in 2021
All-time low
1.61 deaths per 100,000 population
in 1951
Years of data
72
1950–2021
Reported suicide rates by age in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1950–2021
Source: WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for reported suicide rates by age in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 5.96 deaths per 100,000 population, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 72 years on record.
That represents a change of up 21.9% on the previous year and up 66.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reported suicide rates by age in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 5.96 deaths per 100,000 population in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.61 deaths per 100,000 population, in 1951.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 44th of 110 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 72 years of available data.
Reported suicide rates by age in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.87 deaths per 100,000 population | — |
| 1951 | 1.61 deaths per 100,000 population | -13.8% |
| 1952 | 2.02 deaths per 100,000 population | +25.9% |
| 1953 | 1.76 deaths per 100,000 population | -13.1% |
| 1954 | 1.78 deaths per 100,000 population | +1.0% |
| 1955 | 1.64 deaths per 100,000 population | -7.9% |
| 1956 | 1.68 deaths per 100,000 population | +2.6% |
| 1957 | 1.88 deaths per 100,000 population | +11.9% |
| 1958 | 1.99 deaths per 100,000 population | +6.0% |
| 1959 | 2.04 deaths per 100,000 population | +2.2% |
| 1960 | 2.3 deaths per 100,000 population | +12.8% |
| 1961 | 2.24 deaths per 100,000 population | -2.4% |
| 1962 | 2.23 deaths per 100,000 population | -0.6% |
| 1963 | 2.48 deaths per 100,000 population | +11.5% |
| 1964 | 2.71 deaths per 100,000 population | +9.1% |
| 1965 | 3.05 deaths per 100,000 population | +12.4% |
| 1966 | 3.25 deaths per 100,000 population | +6.8% |
| 1967 | 3.09 deaths per 100,000 population | -5.1% |
| 1968 | 2.57 deaths per 100,000 population | -16.7% |
| 1969 | 2.43 deaths per 100,000 population | -5.4% |
| 1970 | 2.25 deaths per 100,000 population | -7.5% |
| 1971 | 2.32 deaths per 100,000 population | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 2.59 deaths per 100,000 population | +11.7% |
| 1973 | 2.35 deaths per 100,000 population | -9.3% |
| 1974 | 2.26 deaths per 100,000 population | -3.8% |
| 1975 | 2.69 deaths per 100,000 population | +19.3% |
| 1976 | 2.6 deaths per 100,000 population | -3.3% |
| 1977 | 2.72 deaths per 100,000 population | +4.7% |
| 1978 | 2.73 deaths per 100,000 population | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 3.16 deaths per 100,000 population | +15.4% |
| 1980 | 3.03 deaths per 100,000 population | -4.0% |
| 1981 | 2.95 deaths per 100,000 population | -2.6% |
| 1982 | 2.68 deaths per 100,000 population | -9.2% |
| 1983 | 2.96 deaths per 100,000 population | +10.5% |
| 1984 | 2.8 deaths per 100,000 population | -5.4% |
| 1985 | 2.97 deaths per 100,000 population | +6.2% |
| 1986 | 3.28 deaths per 100,000 population | +10.4% |
| 1987 | 3.77 deaths per 100,000 population | +14.9% |
| 1988 | 4.36 deaths per 100,000 population | +15.5% |
| 1989 | 3.68 deaths per 100,000 population | -15.5% |
| 1990 | 3.73 deaths per 100,000 population | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 4.25 deaths per 100,000 population | +14.0% |
| 1992 | 4.11 deaths per 100,000 population | -3.4% |
| 1993 | 3.9 deaths per 100,000 population | -5.0% |
| 1994 | 3.31 deaths per 100,000 population | -15.3% |
| 1995 | 3.96 deaths per 100,000 population | +19.8% |
| 1996 | 3.3 deaths per 100,000 population | -16.8% |
| 1997 | 3.56 deaths per 100,000 population | +7.9% |
| 1998 | 4.09 deaths per 100,000 population | +15.0% |
| 1999 | 4.21 deaths per 100,000 population | +3.0% |
| 2000 | 4.35 deaths per 100,000 population | +3.2% |
| 2001 | 3.97 deaths per 100,000 population | -8.6% |
| 2002 | 3.41 deaths per 100,000 population | -14.3% |
| 2003 | 2.72 deaths per 100,000 population | -20.1% |
| 2004 | 3.16 deaths per 100,000 population | +16.1% |
| 2005 | 3.08 deaths per 100,000 population | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 3 deaths per 100,000 population | -2.6% |
| 2007 | 2.99 deaths per 100,000 population | -0.5% |
| 2008 | 3.13 deaths per 100,000 population | +4.9% |
| 2009 | 3.15 deaths per 100,000 population | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 3.27 deaths per 100,000 population | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 3.57 deaths per 100,000 population | +9.2% |
| 2012 | 3.18 deaths per 100,000 population | -10.9% |
| 2013 | 3.29 deaths per 100,000 population | +3.5% |
| 2014 | 3.56 deaths per 100,000 population | +8.0% |
| 2015 | 4.26 deaths per 100,000 population | +19.8% |
| 2016 | 4.23 deaths per 100,000 population | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 4.21 deaths per 100,000 population | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 5.54 deaths per 100,000 population | +31.6% |
| 2019 | 5.36 deaths per 100,000 population | -3.3% |
| 2020 | 4.89 deaths per 100,000 population | -8.8% |
| 2021 | 5.96 deaths per 100,000 population | +21.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.83 deaths per 100,000 population | 1.61 deaths per 100,000 population | 2.04 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.64 deaths per 100,000 population | 2.23 deaths per 100,000 population | 3.25 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.57 deaths per 100,000 population | 2.25 deaths per 100,000 population | 3.16 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.25 deaths per 100,000 population | 2.68 deaths per 100,000 population | 4.36 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.84 deaths per 100,000 population | 3.3 deaths per 100,000 population | 4.25 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.3 deaths per 100,000 population | 2.72 deaths per 100,000 population | 4.35 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.05 deaths per 100,000 population | 3.18 deaths per 100,000 population | 5.54 deaths per 100,000 population | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.42 deaths per 100,000 population | 4.89 deaths per 100,000 population | 5.96 deaths per 100,000 population | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- 41 Austria 6.62 deaths per 100,000 population compare
- 42 Sweden 6.58 deaths per 100,000 population compare
- 43 Türkiye 6.09 deaths per 100,000 population compare
- 45 Peru 5.89 deaths per 100,000 population compare
- 46 Kazakhstan 5.82 deaths per 100,000 population compare
- 47 Guatemala 5.52 deaths per 100,000 population compare
More health data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.71 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.0265 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,134 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 461 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate -0.9864 % 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 0.0827 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate -0.99 % 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 0.087 units per person (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is reported suicide rates by age in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Reported suicide rates by age in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 5.96 deaths per 100,000 population in 2021, according to WHO Mortality Database (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest reported suicide rates by age recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 5.96 deaths per 100,000 population in 2021.
- What is the lowest reported suicide rates by age recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.61 deaths per 100,000 population in 1951.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for reported suicide rates by age?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 44th out of 110 countries with data for 2021.
- Is reported suicide rates by age rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 66.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 by age. 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.