Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Other Pacific Islander Populations

People who are descended from the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent are referred to as Asian. People who are descended from any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands are referred to as Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander.¹ However, most national suicide mortality data combine people of Asian, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander descent into one group that is usually called Asian or Pacific Islander, which is why combined data for deaths are presented here. The data on this web page do not include people of Hispanic ethnicity. In 2022, Asian groups made up an estimated 6.3% of the U.S. population, and Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander groups made up an estimated 0.3%.²

The suicide rates among Asian or Pacific Islander populations did not increase greatly between 2011 (6 per 100,000) and 2020 6.8 per 100,000). Suicide rates among the overall U.S. population increased from 12.3 per 100,000 in 2011 to 13.5 per 100,000 in 2020.³

Among Asian or Pacific Islander populations, suicide rates are highest later in life (85+); the second highest rates are seen among ages 15 to 24. This pattern is different than that seen in the overall U.S. population, where suicide rates increase from age 15 to age 54, decrease from age 54 to age 74, and then start an upward trend at ages 75 to 85+.³

In Asian or Pacific Islander populations, the suicide death rate among males was more than double the rate among females between 2011 and 2020 (10.5 vs. 4, respectively). The suicide death rate among males in the overall U.S. population was higher than the rate among males in Asian or Pacific Islander populations.³

Compared to the overall U.S. population, in 2020 a lower percentage of Asian adults and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander adults reported past-year serious thoughts of suicide or a past-year suicide plan. However, a greater percentage of Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander adults reported a past-year suicide attempt compared to the Asian population and the overall U.S. population.⁴

In 2021, lower percentages of high school youth in Asian populations reported that they felt sad or hopeless, seriously considered attempting suicide, made a suicide plan, attempted suicide, and made a suicide attempt requiring medical treatment in the past year compared to youth in the overall U.S. population.⁵

In 2021, higher percentages of high school youth in Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (NHOPI) populations reported they made a suicide plan and made a suicide attempt requiring treatment than youth in the overall U.S. population. Lower percentages of high school youth in NHOPI populations reported they felt sad and seriously considered attempting suicide than youth in the general U.S. population. Equal percentages of high school youth in NHOPI populations and the general U.S. population reported that they attempted suicide.⁵

References

Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2021). 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Detailed Tables. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2020-nsduh-detailed-tables
United States Census Bureau. (2022). Quick Facts. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). 1999-2020 Wide ranging online data for epidemiological research (WONDER), multiple cause of death files [Data file]. National Center for Health Statistics. http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html
Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2023). 2021 National survey on drug use and health: Detailed tables. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2021-nsduh-detailed-tables
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). 1991-2019 High school youth risk behavior survey data [Data file]. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. http://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/