The suicide rate among females in the United States is highest for those aged 45 to 64 years and lowest among girls aged 10 to 14 and elderly women 75 and over. Although the suicide rate among women remains over three times lower than that of men, rates of suicide among women have gradually increased over the past couple decades. Suicide among women in the United States In 2021, there were around six suicide deaths per 100,000 women in the United States. In comparison, the rate of suicide among women in the year 2000 was about four per 100,000. Suicide rates among women are by far the highest among American Indians or Alaska Natives and lowest among Hispanic and Black or African American women. Although firearms are involved in the highest share of suicide deaths among both men and women, they account for a much smaller share among women. In 2020, the firearm suicide rate among women was 1.8 per 100,000 population, while the rates of suicide for suffocation and poisoning were 1.7 and 1.5 per 100,000, respectively. Suicidal ideation among women Although not everyone who experiences suicidal ideation, or suicidal thoughts, will attempt suicide, suicidal thoughts are a risk factor for suicide. In 2022, just over five percent of women in the United States reported having serious thoughts of suicide in the past year. Suicidal thoughts are more common among women than men even though men have much higher rates of death from suicide than women. This is because men are more likely to use more lethal methods of suicide such as firearms. Women who suffer from substance use disorder are significantly more likely to have serious thoughts of suicide than women without substance use disorder.

In 2019, Female Suicide Rates in Norway remained stable compared to a year earlier.

In 2021, there were around seven suicides per 100,000 white females in the United States, while there were almost 14 suicides per 100,000 females among American Indians or Alaska Natives. This statistic illustrates the female suicide rate in the United States from 2019 to 2021, by race and ethnicity.

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 2021, there were around 14.1 deaths from suicide per 100,000 population. The suicide rate among men in the U.S. is over three 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 30 percent of female high school students in the United States had seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, compared to 14 percent of male students. On average, there are around 11 suicide deaths among adolescents per 100,000 population in the United States. The states with the highest rates of adolescent suicide include Idaho, Colorado, and Utah.

In 2021, around 5.7 women in the United States died from suicide per 100,000 population. This statistic shows the death rate from suicide among women in the U.S. from 1950 to 2021, per 100,000 population.

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.

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;

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In 2021, the highest suicide rate in the U.S. for working females was among artists and related workers with 45.3 deaths per 100,000 population, followed by a rate of around 39 per 100,000 population for female construction laborers. This statistic shows the suicide rate among working female civilians in the U.S. in 2021, by detailed occupation group.

Vietnam VN: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female data was reported at 3.700 NA in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 3.700 NA for 2015. Vietnam VN: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 3.600 NA from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.700 NA in 2016 and a record low of 3.500 NA in 2005. Vietnam VN: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Vietnam – Table VN.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;

Data on death rates for suicide in the United States, by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin. Data are from Health, United States. SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, Mortality File. Search, visualize, and download these and other estimates from over 120 health topics with the NCHS Data Query System (DQS), available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/dataquery/index.htm.

Estonia EE: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female data was reported at 6.600 NA in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.300 NA for 2015. Estonia EE: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 6.600 NA from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 12.700 NA in 2000 and a record low of 5.300 NA in 2015. Estonia EE: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Estonia – Table EE.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;

Belgium BE: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female data was reported at 13.800 NA in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 13.400 NA for 2015. Belgium BE: 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 14.000 NA in 2000 and a record low of 12.100 NA in 2005. Belgium BE: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Belgium – Table BE.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;

Kyrgyzstan KG: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female data was reported at 3.500 NA in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.300 NA for 2015. Kyrgyzstan KG: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 3.900 NA from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.700 NA in 2000 and a record low of 3.300 NA in 2015. Kyrgyzstan KG: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Kyrgyzstan – Table KG.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;

In Canada, the suicide rate among females in 2021 was highest among those aged 50 to 54 years. At that time there were around 6.9 suicide deaths per 100,000 population among females aged 50 to 54 years. This statistic shows the suicide death rate among females in Canada in 2021, by age.

Iceland IS: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female data was reported at 5.600 NA in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 5.700 NA for 2015. Iceland IS: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 6.000 NA from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8.500 NA in 2005 and a record low of 5.600 NA in 2016. Iceland IS: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Iceland – Table IS.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;

The countries with the highest suicide mortality rate worldwide in 2019 included Lesotho, Guyana, and Eswatini. Suicide rates of men are much higher than among women in many countries. Lithuania has one of the highest suicide rates for men as of 2019, while South Korea reports the highest suicide rate for women.

In the United States

Although the United States is not among the countries with the highest suicide mortality rate, suicide is still one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. As with other countries, the suicide rate among males in the U.S. is much higher than among females. The age group with the highest rate of suicide is those aged 45 to 64 years, followed by 25 to 44-year-olds. The states with the highest suicide rates are Wyoming, Alaska, and Montana.

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.

In 2021, there were around 42.2 deaths from suicide per 100,000 population among males in the U.S. aged 75 years and older. Males aged 75 years and older were more likely to die from suicide than any other age group for both males and females. The suicide death rate for males in general is constantly greater than that for females. Suicide method by gender Not only do suicide rates differ by gender, but the method of suicide varies as well. Suicide by firearm accounts for 56 percent of suicides among males, but only 31 percent of those among females. However, suicide by poisoning accounts for a much larger share of suicides among females than males. In 2019, there were a total of 23,941 firearm suicides and 6,125 poisoning suicides. Substance abuse, mental health, and suicide Those who suffer from substance abuse and certain mental health disorders are at a much greater risk of falling victim to suicide. It’s been found that around 14 percent of those with drug or alcohol dependence or abuse had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year, compared to just three percent of those with no such substance dependence of abuse. Similarly, around 3.6 percent of those with a major depressive episode in the past year had attempted suicide, while only 0.2 percent of those without a major depressive episode had done so.