Abstract

Explore global statistics on a subject that claims 800,000 lives each year.

About this dataset

Context

Suicide is a major cause of death in the world, claiming around 800,000 lives each year. It is ranked as the 14th leading cause of death worldwide as of 2017 and on average men are twice as likely to fall victim to it. It also one of the leading causes of death on young people and older people are at a higher risk as well. Source

Notes

This dataset contains data from 200+ countries on the topic of suicide and mental health infrastructure. It was created by extracting the latest data from WHO and combining it into a single dataset. Variables available range from Country, Sex, Mental health infrastructure and personnel and finally Suicide Rate (amount of suicides per 100k people). Note that the suicide rate is age-standardized, as to not bias comparisons between countries with different age compositions.

How to use

• Explore Suicide rates and their associated trends, as well as the effects of infrastructure and personnel on the suicide rates.
• Forecast suicide rates

Acknowledgements

If you use this dataset in your research, please credit the authors.

Citation

@misc{Global Health Observatory data repository, title={Mental Health}, url={https://apps.who.int/gho/data/node.main.MENTALHEALTH?lang=en}, journal={WHO} }

License

CC BY NC SA IGO 3.0

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The countries with the highest suicide mortality rate worldwide in 2021 included Lesotho, South Korea, and Eswatini. In 2021, there were around 27.5 suicide deaths per 100,000 population in South Korea. Suicide in the United States Although the United States is not among the countries with the highest suicide mortality rate, suicide is still a major issue in the country. As with other countries, the suicide rate among males in the U.S. is much higher than among females. In 2022, there were around 23 suicide deaths among males in the United States per 100,000 population, compared to 5.9 deaths per 100,000 females. The states with the highest suicide rates are Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska, while New Jersey and Massachusetts have the lowest rates. Risk factors and help Major risk factors for suicide include mental health issues and substance abuse problems; however, it can be difficult to predict who is at risk. Warning signs such as talking about wanting to die, expressing feelings of depression, suicidal ideation, and abusing drugs or alcohol should be taken seriously and help should be sought as soon as possible. Suicide hotlines exist in many countries around the world and one should not hesitate to discuss such issues and feelings with a health care provider.

Historical dataset showing World suicide rate by year from 2000 to 2021.

Japan JP: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female data was reported at 11.400 NA in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 11.800 NA for 2015. Japan JP: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 13.600 NA from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.100 NA in 2010 and a record low of 11.400 NA in 2016. Japan JP: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Suicide mortality rate is the number of suicide deaths in a year per 100,000 population. Crude suicide rate (not age-adjusted).; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

South Korea currently has the highest overall suicide rate among OECD countries worldwide. The suicide rate among women in South Korea is significantly higher than that of women in any other country. Nevertheless, suicide is commonly more prevalent among men than women. Suicide in the U.S. The suicide rate in the United States has risen since the year 2000. As of 2023, there were around **** deaths from suicide per 100,000 population. The suicide rate among men in the U.S. is over ***** times what it is for females, a considerable and troubling difference. The suicide rate among men increases with age, with the highest rates found among men aged 75 years and older. Adolescent suicide Adolescent suicide is always a serious and difficult topic. A recent survey found that around ** percent of female high school students in the United States had seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, compared to ** percent of male students. On average, there are around ** suicide deaths among adolescents per 100,000 population in the United States. The states with the highest rates of adolescent suicide include New Mexico, Idaho, and Oklahoma.

The average for 2019 based on 180 countries was 9.49 suicides per 100,000 people. The highest value was in Lesotho: 72.4 suicides per 100,000 people and the lowest value was in Antigua and Barbuda: 0.4 suicides per 100,000 people. The indicator is available from 2000 to 2019. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

There're 2 datasets:

1. Life expectancy contains information about life expectancy for men and for women, happiness score and fertility rate.
2. Suicide Rate contains information about the suicide rate and GDP per capita on each country.

Morocco MA: Suicide Mortality Rate: per 100,000 Population data was reported at 2.900 Number in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 2.900 Number for 2015. Morocco MA: Suicide Mortality Rate: per 100,000 Population data is updated yearly, averaging 3.700 Number from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 6.900 Number in 2000 and a record low of 2.900 Number in 2016. Morocco MA: Suicide Mortality Rate: per 100,000 Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Morocco – Table MA.World Bank: Health Statistics. Suicide mortality rate is the number of suicide deaths in a year per 100,000 population. Crude suicide rate (not age-adjusted).; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted Average;

Panama PA: Suicide Mortality Rate: Male data was reported at 7.400 NA in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 6.500 NA for 2015. Panama PA: Suicide Mortality Rate: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 8.600 NA from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 10.700 NA in 2005 and a record low of 6.500 NA in 2015. Panama PA: Suicide Mortality Rate: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Panama – Table PA.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Suicide mortality rate is the number of suicide deaths in a year per 100,000 population. Crude suicide rate (not age-adjusted).; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

Since the 1950s, the suicide rate in the United States has been significantly higher among men than women. In 2022, the suicide rate among men was almost four times higher than that of women. However, the rate of suicide for both men and women has increased gradually over the past couple of decades. Facts on suicide in the United States In 2022, the rate of suicide death in the United States was around 14 per 100,000 population. The suicide rate in the U.S. has generally increased since the year 2000, with the highest rates ever recorded in the years 2018 and 2022. In the United States, death rates from suicide are highest among those aged 45 to 64 years and lowest among younger adults aged 15 to 24. The states with the highest rates of suicide are Montana, Alaska, and Wyoming, while New Jersey and Massachusetts have the lowest rates. Suicide among men In 2023, around 4.5 percent of men in the United States reported having serious thoughts of suicide in the past year. Although this rate is lower than that of women, men still have a higher rate of suicide death than women. One reason for this may have to do with the method of suicide. Although firearms account for the largest share of suicide deaths among both men and women, firearms account for almost 60 percent of all suicides among men and just 35 percent among women. Suffocation and poisoning are the other most common methods of suicide among women, with the chances of surviving a suicide attempt from these methods being much higher than surviving an attempt by firearm. The age group with the highest rate of suicide death among men is by far those aged 75 years and over.

In 2024, the 50- to 59-year-old age group had the highest suicide rate in Japan, with **** suicides per 100,000 inhabitants. The self-inflicted death rate among young people under 20 years was ***. Japan's recent suicide rates While the country's suicide rate had initially shown a downward trend in the most recent decade, 2020 marked the first year that the suicide numbers rose again. The COVID-19 pandemic likely caused this unexpected upward trend. From a gender perspective, Japanese men were more likely to commit suicide than women. **** deaths per 100,000 male inhabitants were reported in 2024, compared to a female suicide rate of **** in the same year. What are the reasons behind Japan’s high suicide rates?  Many factors are being blamed for the Japan's high suicide rates, including bullying, isolation, and a lack of a proficient mental healthcare system. Among others, financial worries and problems directly related to work have been one of the main reasons for self-inflicted deaths in the past years. Historically, the country's high suicide rates have been closely linked to the economic situation of the individuals. Japan’s suicide numbers peaked in 2009 when the country experienced its worst recession since World War II.

Suicide rates by gender and country (age-standardized, per 100,000 population, World Health Organization, 2023)

Columns:

• Country - Region;
• All - Male + Female;
• Male - Only Male;
• Female - Only Female;
• M/F - Female to Male ratio;
• 2000 - All in 2000;
• Change% - Percent change from 2000 to 2023.

Jordan JO: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female data was reported at 2.200 NA in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 2.200 NA for 2015. Jordan JO: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 2.200 NA from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.600 NA in 2000 and a record low of 2.100 NA in 2010. Jordan JO: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Jordan – Table JO.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Suicide mortality rate is the number of suicide deaths in a year per 100,000 population. Crude suicide rate (not age-adjusted).; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

This dataset provides global suicide mortality rates (per 100,000 population) by country from 2000 to 2021, sourced from the World Bank. It includes 200+ countries with annual data, cleaned to remove missing values. Columns: Country Name, Country Code, Year, Suicide Rate. Ideal for analyzing trends in mental health, public health policy, and socio-economic correlations. Please use this sensitive data ethically and responsibly.

In 2024, Japan reported 16.4 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants. The country's suicide rate resumed its downward trend after an unexpected surge in recent years, likely connected to the COVID-19 pandemic. What are the reasons behind Japan’s high suicide rates?  While the majority of suicides in Japan stemmed from health reasons, existential concerns and problems directly related to work also accounted for thousands of self-inflicted deaths in the past years. One of the most profound issues faced by employees in Japan leading to self-harm is exhaustion. “Karoshi,” or death by overwork, is a well-known phenomenon in Japanese society. In addition to physical fatigue, karoshi may be precipitated by mental stress resulting from employment. Occupational stress or overwork-induced suicide is referred to as “karojisatsu (overwork suicide)” in Japan. Which demographic groups are affected? Although *************** are frequently depicted as the most at-risk demographic for suicide in Japan, the increasing occurrence of suicides among the elderly people and schoolchildren is causing concern. Bullying, isolation, and the lack of a proficient mental healthcare system can be additional factors contributing to the country’s high suicide rates among all age groups.

Suicide mortality rate (per 100,000 population) in Trinidad and Tobago was reported at 13.34 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Trinidad and Tobago - Suicide mortality rate (per 100,000 population) - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

This dataset shows the suicide rates for just over 100 countries. The data is compiled from the the World Health Organization from 2008 in which a country's rank is determined by its total rate deaths officially recorded as suicides. Rates are expressed as per 100,000 of population. Note - year is not consistant for all entries, please refer to the year column to determine what year the data represents. Data sourced from WHO website - Mental health. World Health Organization. 2009. http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/country_reports/en/index.html. GIS vector data. This dataset was first accessioned in the EDINA ShareGeo Open repository on 2011-01-31 and migrated to Edinburgh DataShare on 2017-02-21.

Introduction Suicide is still one of the world's most important public health issues, with the World Health Organization (WHO) claiming that over 700,000 people die by suicide annually. Suicide is one of the main causes of death, with far-reaching consequences for people, families, and society. Understanding the global patterns and trends in suicide rates is critical for creating effective prevention methods and providing the required support to at-risk individuals. The purpose of this report is to visualize global data on suicides using the WHO dataset (who_suicide_statistics.csv). This dataset has statistics on the number of suicides in various countries, years, age categories, and sexes. By analyzing this data, it will guide us to learn about demographic and temporal patterns of suicide, show high-risk groups, and highlight regions facing significant challenges. The visualizations will employ various techniques such as graphs, charts, and maps to effectively convey the information and guide the viewer through the findings. Through these visualizations and insights, I suggested key points and recommendations needed to minimize suicide incidents in future. Description of the Dataset The dataset (who_suicide_statistics.csv) has extensive data on global suicide statistics collected by the World Health Organization. This dataset is an invaluable resource for analyzing the patterns and trends in suicide rates across countries, years, age groups, and genders. Below is a detailed description of the columns in the dataset and the kind of information each one provides. Columns in the Dataset • country: Description: The name of the country where the data was collected. Type: Categorical Example Values: 'United States', 'Japan', 'Germany' • year: Description: The year the data was recorded. Type: Numerical Example Values: 2000, 2005, 2010 - age: Description: The age group of the individuals whose suicide data is recorded. Type: Categorical Example Values: '15-24', '25-34', '35-44', '45-54', '55-64', '65-74', '75+' • sex: Description: The sex of the individuals whose suicide data is recorded. Type: Categorical Example Values: 'male', 'female' • suicide_no: Description: The number of suicide cases recorded for the specified country, year, age and sex. Type: Numerical Example Values: 15, 42, 108 • population: Description: The population of the specified age group and sex in the country for that year. Type: Numerical Example Values: 345633, 785042, 3356435 Additional Information • Suicide Rate Calculation: Using the suicide_no and population columns, we can calculate the suicide rate per 100,000 population, which normalizes the data and allows for fair comparisons across different countries and demographic groups. Formula: suicides_rate = (suicide_no / population) * 100000

Portugal PT: Suicide Mortality Rate: per 100,000 Population data was reported at 14.000 Number in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 13.800 Number for 2015. Portugal PT: Suicide Mortality Rate: per 100,000 Population data is updated yearly, averaging 13.500 Number from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.000 Number in 2016 and a record low of 7.500 Number in 2000. Portugal PT: Suicide Mortality Rate: per 100,000 Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Portugal – Table PT.World Bank: Health Statistics. Suicide mortality rate is the number of suicide deaths in a year per 100,000 population. Crude suicide rate (not age-adjusted).; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted Average;

The average for 2019 based on 41 countries was 12.93 suicides per 100,000 people. The highest value was in Lithuania: 26.1 suicides per 100,000 people and the lowest value was in Turkey: 2.4 suicides per 100,000 people. The indicator is available from 2000 to 2019. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.