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Suicide Around the World: A Global Look

Suicide and crisis · 4 min read · First published 2005 · Updated November 2026

Earth at night seen from space, with city lights glowing across the land
Photo by NASA on Unsplash

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, U.S.). Veterans: dial 988 and press 1. Outside the U.S., find a local line at findahelpline.com. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Suicide is a loss felt in every country. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 727,000 people around the world died by suicide in 2021, the latest year with global estimates. For each death, WHO estimates there are about 20 suicide attempts, and many more people who quietly struggle with thoughts of suicide.

Suicide weighs heavily on young people. In 2021 it was the third leading cause of death worldwide for people aged 15 to 29. It was the second leading cause for young women in that age group and the third for young men. More than half of all suicides (56%) happened before age 50.

Most suicides, about 73%, happen in low- and middle-income countries, where mental health care can be hard to reach.

What raises risk

WHO says a previous suicide attempt is an important risk factor. Others include depression and alcohol use problems, money trouble, relationship breakdown, chronic pain and illness, and experiences of conflict, disaster, violence, abuse, loss and isolation. Some groups face higher risk, including refugees and migrants, Indigenous peoples, LGBTI people and people in prison.

What helps

Suicide can be prevented, and countries around the world have agreed to work toward lowering suicide rates. Reducing the suicide rate is one of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, and it is the only mental health measure on that list. WHO's LIVE LIFE approach points to four steps that work:

  • Limiting access to the means of suicide
  • Encouraging the media to report on suicide responsibly
  • Helping teens build social and emotional life skills
  • Finding, supporting and following up early with people who are at risk

A look back at China

When this article was first written in 2005, news reports from China described suicide as the leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 34 there, with especially high rates among women in rural farming communities. Reports also said crisis lines were so busy that most callers could not get through. China was changing quickly at the time, and many people were struggling to adapt.

Those 2005 figures are now more than 20 years old and should not be used to describe China today. For current figures for any country, the World Health Organization's Global Health Observatory is the most reliable place to look.

Wherever you live, if you are hurting, you deserve help. Free, confidential helplines exist in more than 175 countries, and findahelpline.com can point you to one near you.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, U.S.). Veterans: dial 988 and press 1. Outside the U.S., find a local line at findahelpline.com. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Related: An Overview of Suicide and 7 Signs Someone May Be Suicidal

Sources

Written by Words to Comfort

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