Suicide by Age

Between 2015 and 2020, suicide rates increased for those ages 15 to 24, 25 to 34, and 35 to 44.

For the 45 to 54 age group, the rate was fairly steady and then decreased around 2019. For those ages 55 to 64, rates increased steadily starting in 2015, followed by a downward turn in 2018. The rate for the 65+ age group was steady until 2017, and then increased until 2018, when it decreased.1

In 2020, suicide was the second leading cause of death for those ages 10 to 14 and 25 to 34. Suicide was the third leading cause of death for ages 15 to 24, the fourth leading cause of death for ages 35 to 44, and the seventh leading cause of death for ages 55 to 64. Although suicide has historically been among the top ten leading causes of death for all ages combined, it was not in 2020. In 2020, COVID-19 became the third leading cause of death.2

References

  1. 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
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Web-based injury statistics query and reporting system (WISQARS). National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars
The charts and graphs in this section are also available as a PowerPoint slide set. Feel free to use this slide set to deliver a presentation about the scope of the suicide problem.