Overview
This document summarizes recent suicide data in the United States, highlighting trends, demographic disparities, and common methods, with statistics current through 2023 and preliminary data into 2025.
Suicide Trends and Statistics
- Over 49,000 people died by suicide in the US in 2023, approximately one every 11 minutes.
- In 2023, 12.8 million adults seriously considered suicide, 3.7 million made a plan, and 1.5 million attempted suicide.
- Suicide rates increased by 37% from 2000 to 2018, decreased by 5% from 2018 to 2020, and returned to their 2018 peak by 2022.
Demographic Disparities
- Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native people had the highest suicide rates in 2023 (23.8 per 100,000).
- Non-Hispanic White people also showed high rates (17.6), followed by non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (17.3).
- Males accounted for 50% of the population but nearly 80% of suicides, with a rate four times higher than females (22.7 vs. 5.9 per 100,000).
- Suicide rates were highest among people aged 85 and older (22.7 per 100,000), with elevated rates beginning at age 35.
Methods of Suicide
- Firearms were the most common method, used in 55.33% of suicides in 2023.
- Suffocation accounted for 24.37%, poisoning for 12.09%, and other methods made up 8.21%.
Data Considerations
- Data on race and Hispanic origin may be underestimated due to inconsistent reporting in death certificates and surveys.
- Provisional data are based on death certificates received, but not yet fully reviewed, and may be subject to change.
Additional Resources
- The CDC offers interactive data charts and reporting tools such as WISQARS and the National Violent Death Reporting System.