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Suicide statistics

Trends

In 2024, there were 7,147 deaths registered in the UK where the cause was recorded as suicide.

The age-standardised suicide rate in England and Wales has declined by 21% since 1981. Most of this fall occurred before 2000. The rate followed a generally declining trend until 2007, but it has since started to increase again. In 2024 the age-standardised suicide rate was 11.4 per 100,000 people.

When making comparisons before and after 2018 caution must be taken. This is because the standard of proof used to conclude whether a death was caused by suicide in England and Wales was lowered from the criminal standard (beyond all reasonable doubt) to the civil standard (on the balance of probabilities).

The ONS concluded that “it is likely that the change in the standard of proof did increase deaths registered as suicide” and that the change “does affect the comparability of figures”. However, the ONS also found that “the change was not large enough to create a discontinuity in our time series from 1981”. 

Note: On 26 July 2018, the standard of proof for suicides in England and Wales was lowered to the "civil standard" (balance of probabilities). Previously, a "criminal standard" was applied (beyond all reasonable doubt).

Source: ONS, Suicides in England and Wales dataset, Table 1 

Age and sex

Suicide in England and Wales is around three times more common among men than among women. The gap between sexes has increased over time.

The age-standardised suicide rate among women has almost halved since 1981, from 10.5 to 5.7 deaths per 100,000 people. By comparison, the rate among men has fallen by just 8%, from 19.2 to 17.6 deaths per 100,000 people.

Note: On 26 July 2018, the standard of proof for suicides in England and Wales was lowered to the "civil standard" (balance of probabilities). Previously, a "criminal standard" was applied (beyond all reasonable doubt).

Source: ONS, Suicides in England and Wales dataset, Table 1

In 2024 risk of suicide was highest among people aged between 50 and 54 (17.0 deaths per 100,000 people) and lowest among people aged under 20 (5.8 deaths per 100,000 people).

The chart below shows data for five-year age groups in 2024, as well as a breakdown by sex.

Source: ONS, Suicides in England and Wales dataset, Table 5 

English regions

In the three years from 2022 to 2024, the age-standardised suicide rate was highest in the North East and the North West regions compared with other parts of England. London had the lowest suicide rate.

The suicide rate has fallen in all regions since 1981 to 1983, but the fall has been larger in some regions than others. In London the rate has fallen by 54% since 1981 to 1983, while in the North East and the East Midlands the rate has fallen by just 1%.

Deprivation

People living in the most deprived areas of England have a higher risk of suicide than those living in the least deprived areas.

In the five years from 2020 to 2024, the age-standardised suicide rate for people aged between 25 and 44 in the most deprived 10% of areas in England was 14.9 per 100,000, compared with a rate of 10.6 in the least deprived 10% of areas.

In the five years from 2020 to 2024, the age-standardised suicide rate for people aged between 45 and 64 in the most deprived 10% of areas in England was 16.3 per 100,000, compared with a rate of 11.9 in the least deprived 10% of areas.

Getting help

If you are affected by the themes of this briefing paper, you can contact the Samaritans.