Global Suicide Rates Decline as Prevention Efforts Show Impact

Global suicide rates have fallen by about 40% since the 1990s, demonstrating that targeted prevention measures and improved mental health support can significantly reduce deaths.

“A world where so many people die from suicide is not inevitable,” said Hannah Ritchie, researcher at Our World in Data.

The global rate dropped from around 15 deaths per 100,000 people in the mid-1990s to about nine per 100,000 by 2023, even as populations increased. This progress is linked to measures such as restricting access to harmful means, improving healthcare responses and raising awareness. Around 740,000 people still die by suicide each year, representing more than one in every 100 deaths worldwide, highlighting both the scale of improvement and the need to expand effective prevention strategies further.