Suicide Prevention Statistics 2023

1. Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. It was responsible for nearly 46,000 deaths in 20201.
2. In 2020, an estimated 2 million adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.2 million made a plan, and 1.2 million attempted suicide1.
3. Suicide rates in 2020 were 30% higher than in 20001.
4. In 2019, more than 700,000 people died by suicide worldwide: one in every 100 deaths2.
5. Some groups have disproportionately high rates of suicide. The racial/ethnic groups with the highest rates in 2021 were non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native people and non-Hispanic White people.
6. The suicide rate among males in 2021 was approximately four times higher than among females.
7. Males comprise 50% of the population but nearly 80% of suicides.
8. People age 85 and older have the highest rates of suicide.
9. Firearms are the most common method used in suicides, used in more than 50% of suicides.
10. Suicide rates increased by 37% between 2000-2018 and decreased by 5% between 2018-2020. However, rates nearly returned to their peak in 2021.
11. The researchers estimated that suicide-risk screening tools could identify more than three million additional adults at risk for suicide each year.

Key Suicide Prevention Stats 2023

You can find more detailed information on the website of the CDC.

1. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text “HELLO” to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

You can find more detailed information on the websites of CDC3 and WHO2.