Suicide Statistics
Learn the latest published statistics on suicide from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Data & Statistics Fatal Injury Report for 2021, retrieved May 19, 2023.
Access additional verified data from the CDC. Preliminary unverified quarterly mortality rates are also available but are not used for this page. Suicide rates listed are Age-Adjusted Rates. AFSP fact sheets are updated annually. We also list citation information for the information below as well as our fact sheets. All statistics presented on this page pertain to the United States. Click here to view global suicide statistics.
Suicide is the
11th
leading cause of death in the US
In 2021,
48,183
Americans died by suicide
In 2021, there were an estimated
1.70M
suicide attempts
Become an advocate to help prevent suicide
Learn moreBecome an advocateAdditional facts about suicide in the US
- The age-adjusted suicide rate in 2021 was 14.04 per 100,000 individuals.
- In 2021, men died by suicide 3.90x more than women.
- On average, there are 132 suicides per day.
- White males accounted for 69.68% of suicide deaths in 2021.
- In 2021, firearms accounted for 54.64% of all suicide deaths.
- 94% of adults surveyed in the U.S. think suicide can be prevented.
Suicide Rates in the United States
Make a selection below to see the data for your state. The national average is represented in gray. You can also download our Suicide Facts & Figures national fact sheet or view all state fact sheets.
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Suicide rates by age range
In 2021, the suicide rates were higher among adults ages 25 to 34 years (19.48 per 100,000) and 75 to 84 years (19.56 per 100,000), with the rate highest among adults ages 85 years or older (22.39 per 100,000). Younger groups have had consistently lower suicide rates than middle-aged and older adults. In 2021, adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 24 had a suicide rate of 15.15.
Suicide rates by race/ethnicity and sex
In 2021, the highest U.S. age-adjusted suicide rate was among Whites (15.65) and the second highest rate was among American Indians and Alaskan Natives (16.74). Much lower rates were found among Black or African Americans (8.34) and Asians and Pacific Islanders (6.86). Discover mental health resources for underrepresented communities.
Note that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) records Hispanic origin separately from the primary racial or ethnic groups of White, Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, and Asian or Pacific Islander, since individuals in all groups may also be Hispanic. Overall, across groups, the age-adjusted rate of suicide for non-Hispanics was 15.28 and the rate for Hispanics was 7.89 per 100,000.
Suicide methods
In 2021, firearms were the most common method of death by suicide, accounting for a little more than half (54.64%) of all suicide deaths. The next most common methods were suffocation (including hangings) at 25.80% and poisoning (including drug overdose) at 11.56%.
Confronting Suicide in the Construction Industry
Suicide attempts
When it comes to suicide and suicide attempts there are rate differences depending on demographic characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity and race. Nonetheless, suicide occurs in all demographic groups.
In the U.S., no complete count of suicide attempt data are available. The CDC gathers data from hospitals on non-fatal injuries from self-harm as well as survey data.
In 2020, (the most recent year for which data are available), the rate of visits to the emergency departments for nonfatal self-harm injuries was approximately 146.6 per 100,000 people.
Based on the 2021 National Survey of Drug Use and Mental Health it is estimated that 0.7% of the adults aged 18 or older made at least one suicide attempt. This translates to approximately 1.7 million adults. Adult females reported a suicide attempt 1.33 times as often as males. Further breakdown by gender and race are not available.
Based on the most recent Youth Risk Behaviors Survey from 2021, 10.0% of youth in grades 9-12 reported that they had made at least one suicide attempt in the past 12 months. Female students attempted 1.86 times as often as male students (13% vs. 7%). American Indian or Alaska Native students reported the highest rate of attempt (16%) with white students at 9%. Approximately 3% of all students reported making a suicide attempt that required treatment by a doctor or nurse.
Real stories of hope
Supporting your Mental Health While Navigating Change
By Doreen Marshall, Ph.D., Former AFSP Vice President of Mission Engagement
Working Toward a Common Goal: Preventing Firearm Suicides in Veterans
By Doreen Marshall, Ph.D., Former AFSP Vice President of Mission Engagement
COVID-19: We Must Care for Older Adults’ Mental Health
By Christine Yu Moutier, M.D., AFSP Chief Medical Officer
Speak out about suicide
About AFSP
Learn about the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and our mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.
Advocate for suicide prevention
Learn how American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Volunteer Advocates are helping our public policy office in Washington, D.C. to pass suicide prevention policies that will save lives.
Boards, committees and councils
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s National Board, Councils and Committees are dedicated to the fight to stop suicide.