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QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Suicide Rates,* by Method of Suicide† — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2001–2021
Weekly / September 15, 2023 / 72(37);1018
* Deaths per 100,000 population are age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population.
† Suicides were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes U03, X60–X84, and Y87.0. Specific methods of suicide were identified using underlying cause-of-death codes X72–X74 (firearm), X70 (suffocation), and X60–X69 (poisoning). Other methods include suicides involving means other than firearm, suffocation, or poisoning.
During 2001–2021, age-adjusted suicide rates involving firearms, suffocation, and other methods generally increased, and those involving poisoning decreased. Rates of firearm-related suicide were stable from 2001 (5.9 deaths per 100,000 population) to 2006 (5.5), and then increased through 2021 (7.5). Rates of suffocation-related suicide increased from 2.2 deaths in 2001 to 4.3 in 2018, and then decreased slightly through 2021 (3.8). After a period of increasing and then stable rates during 2001–2016, suicide rates attributed to poisoning decreased from 2.0 in 2016 to 1.6 in 2021. Firearm-related suicide had the highest rates during the period.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, Mortality Data, 2001–2021. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/deaths.htm
Reported by: Matthew F. Garnett, MPH, Mgarnett@cdc.gov; Sally C. Curtin, MA; Merianne R. Spencer, MPH.
For more information on this topic, CDC recommends the following link: https://www.cdc.gov/suicide
Suggested citation for this article: QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Suicide Rates, by Method of Suicide — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2001–2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2023;72:1018. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7237a4.
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