Suicide Statistics 2026

In 2024, 48,824 people died by suicide in the United States. Millions of adults also reported serious thoughts of suicide or an attempt during the past year. This page brings together 65+ sourced figures on deaths, demographic differences, survey findings, veteran data and prevention research, with the population and data year identified so the numbers can be read in context.

By Seph Fontane Pennock, founder of Psychology.com
Every figure independently sourced Peer-reviewed & federal data Updated quarterly Every source linked
Suicide statistics 2026: two people talking side by side on a park bench in early evening light

The figures below come from final CDC mortality files, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey, VA surveillance, the World Health Organization and peer-reviewed prevention research. Death counts, survey estimates and study outcomes measure different things. The accompanying context explains those differences and connects risk statistics with evidence on support and prevention.

Last full review: September 13, 2026 · sourced from CDC and NCHS mortality data, SAMHSA, the VA, WHO and peer-reviewed research.

Ten numbers that define suicide in 2026

  1. 48,824 people died by suicide in the United States in 2024, an age-adjusted rate of 13.7 per 100,000, down 2.8% from 2023. NCHS labels these as final mortality figures. Source NCHS Data Brief 548, January 2026

  2. Suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in 2024. Final NCHS data show that COVID-19 fell from 10th to 15th place. Source NCHS Data Brief 548, January 2026

  3. In 2024, 14.3 million U.S. adults had serious thoughts of suicide, 4.6 million made a plan, and 2.2 million made an attempt. Source NIMH, citing NSDUH 2024

  4. The male suicide rate in 2024 was nearly four times the female rate, a gap that has held at three to four times for two decades. Source AFSP, 2024 data; NCHS, 2002 to 2022 series

  5. Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native people had the highest age-adjusted rate among racial and ethnic groups in 2022, at 27.1 per 100,000, against 14.2 overall. Source CDC MMWR, September 19, 2024 (2022 data)

  6. 20.4% of U.S. high school students seriously considered suicide in 2023 and 9.5% made an attempt; both figures are higher than in 2013. Source CDC YRBS, 2023

  7. 6,398 veterans died by suicide in 2023, about 17.5 a day; after age adjustment, the male veteran rate was 49.7% above male non-veterans and the female rate 103.1% above. Source VA Annual Report, 2025

  8. Globally, an estimated 727,000 people died by suicide in 2021, 1.1% of all deaths, and 73% of them in low- and middle-income countries. Source WHO, 2025

  9. A safety plan plus follow-up calls was associated with 45% fewer suicidal behaviors over six months in a study of 1,640 patients at nine VA emergency departments. The study used a cohort comparison without random assignment. Source Stanley et al., JAMA Psychiatry, 2018 (2010 to 2015 data)

  10. The national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline received 23.3 million calls, texts and chats from July 2022 through March 2026, according to KFF, with monthly volume above 600,000 over the preceding year. Contacts include repeat use. Source KFF, July 14, 2026

Infographic summarising four Suicide figures: 48,824, u.S. suicide deaths in 2024, about 500 fewer than in 2023; 14.3M, u.S. adults who had serious thoughts of suicide in 2024; 20.4%, u.S. high school students who seriously considered attempting suicide in 2023; 6,398, veteran suicide deaths in 2023, an average of 17.5 a day.
The four headline figures from this page. Every number here is repeated, sourced and dated in the sections below.

How many lives are lost to suicide

U.S. suicide mortality statistics come from death certificates compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics. The 2024 data are final and show a small decline in deaths and the age-adjusted rate from 2023. Final files provide a firmer basis for comparisons than early provisional releases, although classification and population estimates still affect the results.

48,824

U.S. suicide deaths in 2024, about 500 fewer than in 2023

The age-adjusted rate fell 2.8%, from 14.1 to 13.7 per 100,000. That is the lowest rate since 2020 (13.5), while remaining above the 2002 rate (10.9) reported in NCHS Data Brief 509. These figures come from final mortality data published in January 2026.

10thSuicide's rank among U.S. causes of death in 2024
Final NCHS data place suicide 10th in 2024, after ranking 11th in 2023. A cause-of-death rank depends on deaths from other causes as well as deaths from suicide.
49,316Suicide deaths in 2023; age-adjusted rate of 14.1 per 100,000
The 2023 count was slightly below 2022 (49,476) and the rate was statistically unchanged from 2018 (14.2), the modern peak year.
14.4Crude death rate per 100,000 in 2024, before age adjustment
The crude rate divides deaths by population; the age-adjusted rate (13.7) is used for year-to-year and state comparisons because it removes shifts in the age mix.
616,000Emergency department visits for self-harm injury in 2022
This estimate counts visits, so a person can be counted more than once. Self-harm injury includes injuries with differing intent and should not be treated as a count of suicide attempts or individual patients.
$510BEstimated average annual U.S. economic cost of suicide and ED-treated self-harm, 2015 to 2020
In 2020 U.S. dollars, CDC researchers estimated $484 billion annually for suicide, 95% of the $510 billion total, largely reflecting the value of life years lost. Adults aged 25 to 64 accounted for $356 billion of the suicide estimate; the total represents an economic valuation rather than health care spending.
2ndRank as a cause of death for ages 10 to 14, 15 to 24 and 25 to 44 in 2023
NCHS ranks suicide second in these three specific age bands. Rankings can differ when age bands are split more narrowly; the broad 25 to 44 category does not establish the rank separately for ages 35 to 44.

U.S. suicide deaths by year, final counts

201947,511
202148,183
202249,476
202349,316
202448,824

Sources: NCHS Data Brief 509 (2019, 2021 and 2022); NCHS Data Brief 541 (2023); NCHS Data Brief 548 (2024). All counts are final; bars are scaled to the largest count shown, in 2022.

Final versus provisional data

NCHS publishes provisional mortality data before completing its final annual files. The 2024 figures used here are final, published in January 2026. This page uses final data through 2024 for its U.S. mortality trend, keeping the same status across the displayed years. Provisional estimates can change as death certificates are processed and causes are resolved.

Who is most affected

Suicide rates differ across demographic groups and places. In the data below, rates are elevated among older men, non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native people, and rural residents. These population patterns can help guide prevention resources, but they cannot predict an individual outcome. Access to care, social support and community conditions all deserve attention.

27.1

Age-adjusted suicide rate per 100,000 among non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native people in 2022

That is nearly double the national rate of 14.2 and the highest of any racial or ethnic group. In 2023, AI/AN non-Hispanic males had an age-adjusted rate of 35.3 per 100,000 and AI/AN females 12.4, both the highest for their sex. The CDC's 2024 data again list AI/AN and non-Hispanic White people as the two groups with the highest rates.

~4xMale rate compared with the female rate in 2024
AFSP reports 38,977 male and 9,847 female suicide deaths in 2024. CDC describes the male suicide rate as nearly four times the female rate that year. In NCHS’s historical 2002 to 2022 age-adjusted series, male rates were around three to four times female rates.
85+Age group with the highest suicide rate in AFSP’s 2024 summary
AFSP reports 21.4 deaths per 100,000 among people aged 85 and older in 2024. Using different age bands, NCHS reports that males aged 75 and older had the highest male age-specific rate in 2023, at 40.7 per 100,000.
20.0 vs 13.4Age-adjusted rural and urban suicide rates per 100,000 in 2022
Rural residents died by suicide at roughly 1.5 times the urban rate. Counties in the top third for health insurance coverage, broadband access and household income all had markedly lower rates.
8.6Rate per 100,000 among women aged 45 to 64 in 2023, the highest female age group
Women's rates peak in midlife rather than old age, the opposite of the male pattern.
35.3 / 12.4Age-adjusted rates for non-Hispanic AI/AN males and females in 2023
NIMH reports the highest rates for both sexes in the non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native population. The corresponding non-Hispanic White rates were 28.0 for males and 7.4 for females. Race and ethnicity definitions must match before comparing these estimates.
28.2Alaska’s age-adjusted suicide rate per 100,000 in 2023, highest among states
Final CDC data list Montana at 26.6, Wyoming at 26.3, Idaho at 23.3 and New Mexico at 22.8. New Jersey had the lowest state rate (7.2), followed by New York (8.3). The District of Columbia, reported separately from states, was 5.7. All figures use age adjustment.

Age-adjusted suicide rate per 100,000 by race and ethnicity, 2022

American Indian or Alaska Native27.1
White17.6
Multiracial10.5
Black8.9
Hispanic8.1
Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander7.1

All groups non-Hispanic except Hispanic. Source: CDC MMWR Vital Signs, September 2024 (2022 data).

Why county conditions matter

In the same CDC analysis of 2022 deaths, the age-adjusted rates in counties in the highest third for health insurance coverage, broadband access and household income were 13.0, 13.3 and 13.5 per 100,000, respectively. Each was below the rate in the corresponding lowest third. These are county-level associations and cannot show that changing one factor alone would cause a specific reduction. Improving access and support is part of a broader prevention approach. Source: CDC MMWR, September 19, 2024.

Suicidal thoughts and attempts

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimates serious suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts among U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized adults. These are self-reported experiences in the previous year. The estimates describe people rather than the number of episodes, and the categories overlap. They should be read separately from death-certificate counts, which cover a different population.

14.3M

U.S. adults who had serious thoughts of suicide in 2024

In the 2024 NSDUH, 5.5% of civilian, noninstitutionalized adults aged 18 and older reported serious thoughts of suicide during the past year. An estimated 4.6 million adults reported a plan and 2.2 million (0.8%) reported an attempt. Serious thoughts were most common among adults aged 18 to 25, at 12.6%. These categories overlap and do not describe an inevitable progression.

2.2MAdults who attempted suicide in the past year, 2024
The attempt rate was 0.8% of adults overall and 2.0% among 18- to 25-year-olds, the highest of any adult age band.
4.6MAdults who made a suicide plan in 2024
The estimate covers civilian, noninstitutionalized adults aged 18 and older reporting a plan during the past year. Thoughts, plans and attempts are overlapping survey categories; an attempt can also occur without a reported plan.
83%People in an eight-system study who had a health care visit in the year before suicide, 2000 to 2010
Among 5,894 people enrolled in the participating health plans, 83% used health services in the preceding year and about 45% had a recorded mental health diagnosis. Nearly half had a visit in the preceding four weeks. This study, published in 2014, describes opportunities for prevention within health care rather than all U.S. suicide deaths.
616,000Emergency department visits for self-harm injury in 2022
The CDC estimate counts self-harm injury visits rather than unique patients or confirmed suicide attempts. Emergency care can provide an opportunity to identify support needs and connect patients with follow-up care.
$26BEstimated annual U.S. cost of ED-treated nonfatal self-harm, 2015 to 2020
In 2020 U.S. dollars, people aged 10 to 44 accounted for about $19 billion of the $26 billion estimate. The study includes medical costs, lost work and reduced quality of life; the total does not represent medical spending alone.

Past-year suicidal thoughts and attempts among adults, 2024

Serious thoughts, all adults 18+5.5%
Serious thoughts, ages 18 to 2512.6%
Attempt, all adults 18+0.8%
Attempt, ages 18 to 252.0%

Source: NIMH, citing SAMHSA NSDUH 2024.

Thoughts, plans, attempts and deaths in 2024

The 2024 estimates are 14.3 million adults with serious thoughts, 4.6 million with a plan and 2.2 million who attempted suicide. These overlapping groups come from a survey of living respondents. The 48,824 deaths are counted separately through death certificates across all ages. Dividing the death count by the survey estimates would not measure a person’s probability of dying or a transition from thoughts to action. Support and follow-up remain relevant at every stage.

Youth and young adults

Suicide ranked second as a cause of death for Americans aged 10 to 34 in NIMH’s summary of 2023 data. The CDC’s high school survey found that suicidal thoughts and attempts increased over 2013 to 2023. The overall percentages were numerically lower in 2023 than in 2021, but those two-year changes were not statistically significant. School connection and supportive environments are associated with lower risk.

20.4%

U.S. high school students who seriously considered attempting suicide in 2023

About one in five students reported serious thoughts during the past year. In the same 2023 survey, approximately 16% reported a plan, 9.5% an attempt and 2% an attempt requiring medical treatment. Female students reported serious thoughts at 27.1%, compared with 14.1% for male students; reported attempts were 12.6% and 6.4%, respectively. The survey records reports from students in grades 9 to 12 and does not establish clinical diagnoses.

41.0%LGBQ+ high school students who seriously considered suicide in 2023
The corresponding estimate was 13.0% among heterosexual students. Past-year attempts were reported by 19.7% of LGBQ+ students and 6.0% of heterosexual students. This analysis groups students by sexual identity; its LGBQ+ category should not be substituted for a combined sexual and gender identity category.
52.9%Transgender high school students who seriously considered suicide in 2023
About a quarter (25.9%) reported an attempt, compared with 5.3% of cisgender boys and 11.0% of cisgender girls. The weighted estimate was that 3.3% of U.S. high school students identified as transgender.
36%LGBTQ+ respondents aged 13 to 24 reporting serious thoughts in the Trevor Project’s 2025 survey
In this online sample of 16,667 respondents, 36% reported past-year serious thoughts and about one in ten reported an attempt. Among transgender and nonbinary respondents, the figures were 40% and 11%. Recruitment ran from March 4, 2025 to October 15, 2025; this voluntary sample does not establish prevalence for all LGBTQ+ young people or a population trend from the 2024 sample.
39.7%Students with persistent sadness or hopelessness in 2023
The overall estimate fell from approximately 42% in 2021 to 39.7% in 2023. Sadness or hopelessness was the only indicator in the report’s overall mental health and suicide summary with a significant two-year improvement; some subgroup indicators also improved. Female students reported 52.6%, compared with 27.7% for male students.
15.2Suicide rate per 100,000 for ages 15 to 34 in 2024
Down from 15.9 in 2023. Among 25- to 34-year-olds the rate fell 6%, from 18.4 to 17.2.
+36.6%Increase in the suicide rate among non-Hispanic Black youth aged 10 to 24, 2018 to 2021
CDC reports a rise from 8.2 to 11.2 per 100,000, or 36.6%, the largest percentage increase among the racial and ethnic youth groups examined. The non-Hispanic AI/AN youth rate rose from 31.1 to 36.3. These historical comparisons reinforce the need for culturally responsive prevention and access to support.

High school students who seriously considered attempting suicide, 2013 to 2023

201317%
201518%
201717%
201919%
202122%
202320%

Over the same decade the share who made a plan went from 14% to 16% and the share who attempted from 8% to 9%. Source: CDC YRBS Data Summary and Trends Report 2023.

What protects young people

In CDC’s 2023 analysis, school connectedness was associated with lower prevalence across the mental health and suicide indicators examined. In the Trevor Project’s 2025 voluntary survey, reported attempts were 6% among respondents in very accepting communities and 18% in very unaccepting communities. These associations cannot isolate the effect of community acceptance. In that survey, 44% of respondents who wanted mental health care reported being unable to obtain it. Suicide prevention resources can help readers find support. Sources: CDC YRBS · The Trevor Project.

Veterans and other high-risk groups

The VA’s 2025 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, released in March 2026, reports deaths through 2023. It shows elevated veteran rates compared with non-veteran adults after age adjustment. Separate CDC occupation data describe differences across working populations. Neither set of statistics identifies a single cause; both can inform access to care, outreach and prevention in relevant settings.

6,398

Veteran suicide deaths in 2023, an average of 17.5 a day

There were 44 fewer deaths than in the report’s revised 2022 count, while age-adjusted rates rose 3.1% for male veterans and 2.8% for female veterans. Of the average 17.5 daily deaths, 6.8 were among veterans with VHA care in 2022 or 2023 and 10.7 among those without VHA care in those two calendar years. The latter group may still have received other VA benefits or earlier care.

+103.1%Female veterans' age-adjusted suicide rate above female non-veterans in 2023
The male gap was 49.7%. In unadjusted terms, female veterans had a rate of 13.9 per 100,000 against 7.20 for other women, and male veterans 37.8 against 28.4 for other men.
47.9Suicide rate per 100,000 among veterans aged 18 to 34 in 2023
The youngest veterans carry the highest rate, ahead of ages 35 to 54 (37.3), 75 and older (33.5) and 55 to 74 (31.2).
+69.3%Rise in the age-adjusted suicide rate for male veterans from 2001 to 2023
The female veteran age-adjusted rate rose 64.1% over the same period. Increases among non-veteran adults were 11.7% for males and 41.0% for females. The larger increases among veterans underline the need for sustained prevention, while the data alone cannot explain the difference.
-35.1%Fall in suicide rates among VHA patients with an anxiety diagnosis, 2001 to 2022
The VA’s 2024 report also found declines of 34.5% for recent VHA users with depression and 31.6% for those with PTSD, while the rate rose 16.2% for users without a documented mental health or substance use diagnosis. These are observational trends in changing patient cohorts; they do not measure the causal effect of treatment.
-25.1%One-year fall in suicide rates among female VHA users with positive military sexual trauma screens, 2022 to 2023
Among recent VHA users with positive military sexual trauma screens, the male rate fell 26.0%. In a separate comparison, recent VHA users with documented homelessness had a rate 146.0% above those without that diagnosis in 2023. These associations support attention to trauma-informed care and housing needs without implying that one factor alone explains suicide.
72.0Suicide rate per 100,000 among male mining-industry workers aged 16 to 64 in 2021
In 49 states, the construction-industry rates were 56.0 for males and 10.4 for females, compared with 32.0 and 8.0 in the study’s civilian, noninstitutionalized working population. Construction and extraction occupations had rates of 65.6 for males and 25.3 for females; these were elevated, but were not the highest female occupational rate. The rates are crude and distinguish industry from occupation.

Selected population rates per 100,000, with different age ranges and adjustment methods

GroupRateYearSource
Male mining-industry workers, ages 16 to 64, crude72.02021CDC MMWR
Male construction/extraction occupations, ages 16 to 64, crude65.62021CDC MMWR
Veterans aged 18 to 34, crude47.92023VA
Male veterans, all ages, crude37.82023VA
AI/AN non-Hispanic males, age-adjusted35.32023NIMH
Male non-veteran adults, crude28.42023VA
Female veterans, all ages, crude13.92023VA
All Americans, age-adjusted13.72024NCHS

Where the veteran numbers come from

VA surveillance links death certificates with military and VA records to identify veterans regardless of recent VHA use. Its report editions can revise earlier years: the 2024 edition counted 6,407 deaths in 2022, while the 2025 edition reports 6,398 deaths in 2023, 44 below its revised 2022 total. The two editions should not be combined to calculate a year-to-year change. The 2024 report also recorded a decline from 77.9 to 56.4 per 100,000 among recent VHA users with mental health or substance use diagnoses between 2001 and 2022, an observational cohort trend. Sources: VA 2025 report · VA 2024 report.

Prevention and the national crisis response system

Safety planning, follow-up contact and coordinated health-system care have been studied as components of suicide prevention. The studies below use different designs and outcomes, including recorded suicidal behavior and callers’ perceptions of support. Lifeline contact volumes describe demand and service capacity; they do not count unique people or establish how many deaths were prevented.

23.3M

Calls, texts and chats received by the national Lifeline from July 2022 through March 2026

KFF’s July 14, 2026 analysis reports 23.3 million contacts, including rounded components of 15.8 million calls, 4.2 million texts and 3.4 million chats; rounded components may not sum exactly. Monthly volume exceeded 600,000 over the preceding year. The figures exclude calls routed to the Veterans Crisis Line. GAO separately counted 19.1 million contacts routed through September 2025, with call, text and chat volumes up approximately 87%, 260% and 23%, respectively, from July 2022.

45%Fewer suicidal behaviors associated with safety planning plus follow-up in a 2018 study
The cohort comparison included 1,640 patients at nine VA emergency departments, using 2010 to 2015 data. Recorded suicidal behavior within six months was 3.03% with the intervention and 5.29% with usual care (odds ratio 0.56). The odds of attending at least one outpatient mental health visit were 2.06 times as high; an odds ratio should not be read as a doubling of probability.
3 of 4Implementing health systems with a significant decline in suicide attempt rates
The 2025 JAMA Network Open quality-improvement study examined patients aged 13 and older receiving outpatient specialty mental health care in six U.S. systems over 2012 to 2019. Four adopted Zero Suicide during that observation window, and three had significant declines in attempt rates after implementation. Two had estimated declines of 0.7 per 100,000 patients per month and one of 0.1. Results were site-specific associations, with an outcome that included fatal and nonfatal attempts.
79.6%Interviewed Lifeline follow-up clients who felt the intervention prevented them from acting on suicide
Gould and colleagues’ 2018 evaluation collected data from 550 callers, 41 crisis counselors and six centers. Among interviewed follow-up clients, 79.6% said the intervention had stopped them from taking their own life and 90.6% said it kept them safe. These participant perceptions do not measure a percentage reduction in suicide deaths.
26 statesStates answering at least 90% of Lifeline calls in-state in May 2026
KFF reports an increase from eight states before launch to 26 states in May 2026. In-state answer rates ranged from 62% in the District of Columbia to 99% in Mississippi and Rhode Island. Calls handled by national backup centers are outside the in-state numerator, so the local answer rate is not the overall chance of reaching a counselor.
38Countries reporting a national suicide prevention strategy, WHO fact sheet accessed September 13, 2026
WHO also reports that approximately 80 member states have good-quality death registration that can directly support suicide-rate estimates. Global estimates therefore require modelling in many countries. The existence of a national strategy does not establish how fully it has been implemented.

What the prevention evidence shows

InterventionResultSetting and yearSource
Safety Planning Intervention plus follow-up callsAssociated with 45% fewer suicidal behaviors; outpatient-care odds ratio 2.069 VA emergency departments, 2010 to 2015; published 2018JAMA Psychiatry
Zero Suicide modelSignificant attempt-rate declines at 3 of 4 systems adopting during observation6 health systems, 2012 to 2019JAMA Network Open
Lifeline follow-up contact79.6% of interviewed follow-up clients perceived that it prevented acting on suicideSix Lifeline centers; published 2018Gould et al., PubMed
National Lifeline capacityAnswer rate 70% (May 2022) to 89% (May 2024); wait 2:20 to 1:31National, 2024KFF
Observed trends in recent VHA usersRates fell 35.1% (anxiety), 34.5% (depression), 31.6% (PTSD) among diagnosed patients, 2001 to 2022Observational VA surveillance; 2024 reportVA

Means safety and service capacity

Means-safety counseling aims to reduce access to potentially lethal means during a crisis. Runyan et al., 2016. Beyond individual support, service capacity matters: KFF reported in July 2026 that 12 states had passed legislation to fund the Lifeline through telecom fees, and a 2025 survey found staffing shortages at about three in four centers. GAO describes SAMHSA’s goal of local centers answering more than 90% of texts and chats by September 2026; this is a target rather than an achieved result. Sources: KFF, July 14, 2026 · GAO, July 1, 2026.

Common questions

How many people die by suicide in the United States each year?
Final NCHS data count 48,824 U.S. suicide deaths in 2024, with an age-adjusted rate of 13.7 per 100,000. The rate was 2.8% below 2023 (49,316 deaths; 14.1 per 100,000) and the lowest since 2020. Suicide ranked 10th overall in 2024. For 2023, NCHS ranked it second in the specific age bands 10 to 14, 15 to 24 and 25 to 44; that does not establish the ranking in every narrower age band. This page’s mortality trend uses final annual data through 2024.
What should I do if I am having thoughts of suicide?
In the United States, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available around the clock, free and confidential. Online chat is available through the Lifeline’s website. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Outside the United States, contact your local emergency number or crisis service. Support is available even if you are unsure what to say. Suicidal thoughts can change, and timely support can help people stay safe through a crisis.
Who is most at risk of suicide?
The cited mortality data show elevated rates among older men, non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native people, rural residents and veterans. For example, men aged 75 and older had an age-specific rate of 40.7 per 100,000 in 2023; the 2022 age-adjusted rural and urban rates were 20.0 and 13.4. Survey results answer a different question: in 2024, 12.6% of civilian, noninstitutionalized adults aged 18 to 25 reported serious thoughts, while 20.4% of high school students reported them in 2023. These group statistics do not predict an individual outcome. Supportive environments, access to care and follow-up are relevant prevention priorities.
Is suicide increasing or decreasing?
Both, depending on the window. The U.S. age-adjusted rate rose 30% from 2002 to 2018, then plateaued: 13.9 in 2019, 13.5 in 2020, 14.1 in 2021, 14.2 in 2022, 14.1 in 2023. In 2024 it fell to 13.7. Some groups moved against the trend, including non-Hispanic Black youth aged 10 to 24 (up 36.6% from 2018 to 2021) and women aged 75 and older (up 10.9% from 2022 to 2023), and veteran rates kept rising through 2023. Globally, WHO estimated 727,000 deaths in 2021, 1.1% of all deaths.
Do crisis lines and safety plans actually work?
Research supports safety planning and follow-up as parts of suicide prevention, with limits that depend on the study design. In a 1,640-patient VA cohort comparison published in 2018, safety planning plus follow-up was associated with 45% fewer suicidal behaviors over six months and an outpatient-care odds ratio of 2.06. In Gould and colleagues’ 2018 Lifeline evaluation, 79.6% of interviewed follow-up clients felt the intervention had prevented them from acting on suicide. These outcomes differ from a measured reduction in deaths. The national Lifeline received 23.3 million contacts from July 2022 through March 2026 according to KFF; contacts include repeat use.
Why do suicide statistics differ between sources?
Four reasons. Data vintage: CDC releases provisional counts first and final counts months later, and 2024 is now final. Rate type: the crude 2024 rate is 14.4 per 100,000 but the age-adjusted rate, used for comparisons over time and between states, is 13.7. Population: the VA counts veterans through linked death records, YRBS surveys high school students, and NSDUH asks people aged 12 and older about thoughts and attempts, which are self-reported. And geography: WHO's global estimates rest on modelling because only about 80 countries have good-quality death registration. Every number here states its source and year.

How we compiled this

Figures were checked against the cited CDC and NCHS mortality tables, NIMH restatements of NSDUH, CDC school surveys, VA reports, WHO estimates and peer-reviewed studies. U.S. mortality comparisons use final data through 2024. Each survey and study retains its own population, period and design; observational associations are described as such. Sources sometimes differ because of age adjustment, population estimates, grouping or report revisions. This is an independent source check, and clinical review remains a separate step. Risk information is paired with prevention context and crisis support information. Last full review: September 13, 2026.

Journalists and researchers may reuse any statistic with attribution to the original source and a link to Psychology.com.

Cite this source

Fontane Pennock, S. (2026, September 13). Suicide Statistics 2026. Psychology.com. https://psychology.com/suicide-statistics/

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  21. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (March 2026). 2025 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, Part 2: Report findings. mentalhealth.va.gov
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This page is educational information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional care. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (U.S. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), any time.