Odainn
Mental health & substances

Who dies by suicide?

In the median of the 36 countries that publish causes of death by age, 1.4% of men and 0.44% of women eventually die by suicide. It is the most likely cause of death in 176 of their 1,152 country, sex and age groups.

This is one of the most preventable causes of death. If you or someone you love is struggling, free and confidential help is available — in the US and Canada call or text 988, in the UK call Samaritans on 116 123, anywhere else find a helpline at findahelpline.com.

The risk by age

Chance of dying by suicide within 10 years, and its share of all the risk at that age — the median of 36 countries. Your own country's numbers are one click away on its page.

Agemenwomen
15–190.11% (24% of the risk)0.03% (18% of the risk)
20–240.15% (23% of the risk)0.03% (13% of the risk)
25–290.16% (20% of the risk)0.04% (10% of the risk)
30–340.18% (15% of the risk)0.04% (6.6% of the risk)
35–390.21% (11% of the risk)0.05% (4.9% of the risk)
40–440.21% (7.4% of the risk)0.06% (3.6% of the risk)
45–490.22% (5.1% of the risk)0.06% (2.7% of the risk)
50–540.24% (3.4% of the risk)0.06% (1.8% of the risk)
55–590.23% (2.2% of the risk)0.07% (1.0% of the risk)
60–640.21% (1.3% of the risk)0.06% (0.64% of the risk)
65–690.21% (0.80% of the risk)0.07% (0.45% of the risk)
70–740.21% (0.60% of the risk)0.06% (0.23% of the risk)
75–790.24% (0.47% of the risk)0.06% (0.14% of the risk)
80–840.25% (0.34% of the risk)0.05% (0.08% of the risk)
85–890.21% (0.24% of the risk)0.04% (0.05% of the risk)
90–940.20% (0.20% of the risk)0.03% (0.03% of the risk)

Where it's the most likely cause of death

Lifetime chance, men: highest and lowest countries

  1. Slovenia2.3%
  2. Lithuania2.3%
  3. France1.9%
  4. Austria1.9%
  5. Hungary1.9%
  6. Latvia1.9%
  7. Estonia1.8%
  8. United States1.8%
  9. Poland1.7%
  10. Belgium1.7%
  11. Türkiye0.62%
  12. Greece0.58%
  13. Cyprus0.56%

Lifetime chance, women: highest and lowest countries

  1. Sweden0.66%
  2. Norway0.65%
  3. Slovenia0.62%
  4. Belgium0.60%
  5. Finland0.59%
  6. France0.59%
  7. Lithuania0.58%
  8. Austria0.56%
  9. Estonia0.56%
  10. Switzerland0.55%
  11. Greece0.13%
  12. Cyprus0.11%
  13. Malta0.08%

What changes the odds

What you can do

  • If you're struggling, talk to someone today — a helpline, your doctor or someone you trust.
  • Depression and other mental illnesses are treatable.
  • Worried about someone? Ask them directly how they are, listen, and stay with them — asking doesn't put the idea in their head.

What the evidence says

  • A personal safety plan made with a clinician, plus follow-up calls, was linked to 45% fewer suicidal behaviours over the next six months. — Stanley et al., JAMA Psychiatry 2018

Act fast: If someone's life is in immediate danger, call your emergency number.

Sources: WHO: Suicide (fact sheet); WHO LIVE LIFE implementation guide (2021); Stanley B et al. JAMA Psychiatry 2018;75:894–900. General guidance, not medical advice.

See your own numbers
Embed this on your site

Free to use with the link back. The image updates when the data does.

Related: Alcohol use disorder · Drug use disorder · Other mental health conditions

Questions

At what age is suicide most likely to be the cause of death?
For men, suicide takes its largest share of deaths at 15–19: 24% of the risk of dying in the next 10 years, in the median of the 36 countries that publish causes of death by age.
Which country has the highest risk of dying by suicide?
Of the 36 countries that publish causes of death by age, Slovenia has the highest lifetime chance of dying by suicide for men (2.3%), and Cyprus the lowest (0.56%).

Computed by Odainn from official mortality statistics (Eurostat; ONS, NRS and NISRA; CDC; Statistics Canada) for 36 countries, latest years — how we calculate. Belarus is left out: deaths by cause and age aren't published together there, so the split by cause is our estimate. Population statistics, not a prediction for any individual. Educational, not medical advice.