Suicide Mortality in the United States, 2002–2022

NCHS Data Brief No. 509, September 2024

PDF Version (454 KB)

Matthew F. Garnett, M.P.H., and Sally C. Curtin, M.A.

On This Page

Key findings
From 2002 through 2022, age-adjusted suicide rates increased for most years for males and females.
From 2002 to 2022, suicide rates for females increased for all age groups.
Suicide rates for males of all ages increased from 2002 to 2022, although rates for those ages 10–14 and 15–24 have declined since 2020.
For females, firearms were the leading means of suicide in 2022.

For males, firearms were the leading means of suicide across the period with rates increasing from 2006 through 2022.
Summary
Data source and methods
About the authors
References
Suggested citation

Key findings

Data from the National Vital Statistics System

After increasing between 2002 to 2018, the age-adjusted suicide rate declined from 2018 (14.2 deaths per 100,000 standard population) through 2020 (13.5) and then increased to 14.2 in 2022, which was similar to the rate in 2021 (14.1).
Following declines between 2018 and 2020, suicide rates generally increased between 2020 and 2022 for females age 25 and older.
For males ages 10–14 and 15–24, rates decreased between 2020 and 2022, while rates for older age groups generally increased.
For females in 2022, firearm-related suicide (2.0) was the leading means of suicide, with rates generally increasing since 2007.
For males in 2022, firearm-related suicide (13.5) was the leading means of suicide, with rates increasing since 2006.

Article Metrics

Suggested Citation^[?]

In 2022, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death for all ages in the United States, the same as in 2021 (1). Suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10–14 and 20–34, and the third leading cause for people ages 15–19 (1). Following a peak in overall suicide rates in 2018, rates declined through 2020 (2), but provisional death data showed that suicide increased through 2022 (3). This report presents final suicide rates from 2002 through 2022 by sex, age, and means of suicide, using mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System.

Keywords: intentional self-harm, mechanism, mental health, suicidology, National Vital Statistics System

From 2002 through 2022, age-adjusted suicide rates increased for most years for males and females.

The total age-adjusted suicide rate increased 30% from 2002 (10.9 deaths per 100,000 standard population) to 2018 (14.2), declined through 2020 (13.5), and then increased to 14.2 in 2022, which was similar to the rate in 2021 (14.1) (Figure 1, Table 1).
The suicide rate for males increased from 18.5 in 2002 to 22.8 in 2018, declined for 2 years, and then increased again through 2022 (23.0), which was similar to the rate in 2021 (22.8).
The suicide rate for females increased from 4.2 in 2002 to 6.0 in 2015, followed by a period of stability through 2018 (6.2). The rate then declined to 5.5 in 2020, followed by an increase to 5.9 in 2022, which was also higher than the rate in 2021 (5.7).
The suicide rate for males was three to four times the rate for females across the period.

Figure 1. Age-adjusted suicide rate, by sex: United States, 2002–2022

¹Rate decreased from 2018 to 2020 and increased from 2020 to 2022 (p < 0.05). The rate in 2022 was significantly higher than in 2002 (p < 0.05).
²No statistically significant trend from 2002 through 2005; significant increasing trend from 2005 to 2018, with different rates of change (p < 0.05). The rate for males was higher than the rate for females for all years (p < 0.05).
³No statistically significant trend from 2002 through 2006; significant increasing trend from 2006 through 2018 (p < 0.05).
⁴Significant increasing trend from 2002 through 2015, with different rates of change; no statistically significant trend from 2015 through 2018 (p < 0.05).
NOTES: Suicide deaths are identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision underlying cause of death codes U03, X60–X84, and Y87.0. Age-adjusted death rates are calculated using the direct method and the 2000 U.S. standard population.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, mortality data file.



	Total		Female		Male
Year	Number	Deaths per 100,000	Number	Deaths per 100,000	Number	Deaths per 100,000
2002	31,655	10.9	6,246	4.2	25,409	18.5
2003	31,484	10.8	6,281	4.2	25,203	18.1
2004	32,439	11.0	6,873	4.5	25,566	18.1
2005	32,637	10.9	6,730	4.4	25,907	18.1
2006	33,300	11.0	6,992	4.5	26,308	18.1
2007	34,598	11.3	7,329	4.6	27,269	18.5
2008	36,035	11.6	7,585	4.8	28,450	19.0
2009	36,909	11.8	7,820	4.9	29,089	19.2
2010	38,364	12.1	8,087	5.0	30,277	19.8
2011	39,518	12.3	8,515	5.2	31,003	20.0
2012	40,600	12.6	8,820	5.4	31,780	20.4
2013	41,149	12.6	9,094	5.5	32,055	20.3
2014	42,826	13.0	9,664	5.8	33,162	20.7
2015	44,193	13.3	10,199	6.0	33,994	21.1
2016	44,965	13.5	10,238	6.0	34,727	21.4
2017	47,173	14.0	10,391	6.1	36,782	22.4
2018	48,344	14.2	10,583	6.2	37,761	22.8
2019	47,511	13.9	10,255	6.0	37,256	22.4
2020	45,979	13.5	9,428	5.5	36,551	22.0
2021	48,183	14.1	9,825	5.7	38,358	22.85
2022	49,476	14.2	10,203	5.9	39,273	23.0

NOTES: Suicide deaths are identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision underlying cause-of-death codes U03, X60–X84, and Y87.0. Age-adjusted death rates are calculated using the direct method and the 2000 U.S. standard population.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, mortality data file.

From 2002 to 2022, suicide rates for females increased for all age groups.

For females age 74 and younger, suicide rates generally increased at varying rates between 2002 and 2018, followed by a period of decline or stability between 2018 and 2020 (Figure 2, Table 2). For females age 75 and older, suicide rates were stable between 2002 and 2020.
Rates increased from 2020 through 2022 for females in age groups 25 years and older: 25–44 (from 7.2 deaths per 100,000 population to 7.9), 45–64 (7.9 to 8.6), 65–74 (5.6 to 6.0), and 75 and older (3.9 to 4.6). The increase for females 65–74 was not statistically significant.
For females ages 10–14 and 15–24, rates did not change significantly between 2018 and 2022.
From 2002 through 2022, suicide rates were highest for women ages 45–64 and lowest for females ages 10–14.

Figure 2. Suicide rate for females, by age group: United States, 2002–2022

¹Rate in 2022 was significantly higher than in 2002 (p < 0.05).
²Significant increasing trend from 2002 to 2015; significant decreasing trend from 2015 to 2018 (p < 0.05). The rate was higher than for all other age groups for all years (p < 0.05).
³The rate decreased from 2018 to 2020, and increased from 2020 to 2022 (p < 0.05).
⁴No statistically significant trend from 2002 to 2009; significant increasing trend from 2009 to 2018 (p < 0.05).
⁵No statistically significant trend from 2002 to 2004; significant increasing trend from 2004 to 2014; no statistically significant trend from 2014 to 2018 (p < 0.05). From 2018 to 2020 the rate decreased, and from 2020 to 2022 the rate did not significantly change (p < 0.05).
⁶Significant increasing trend 2002 through 2004; no statistically significant trend from 2004 to 2007; significant increasing trend from 2007 through 2018 (p < 0.05).
⁷The rate did not statistically change from 2018 to 2022.
⁸No statistically significant trend from 2002 to 2018. From 2018 to 2020 the rate did not statistically change, and from 2020 to 2022 the rate increased (p < 0.05).
⁹No statistically significant trend from 2002 to 2018. The rate was lower than for all other age groups for all years.
NOTE: Suicide deaths are identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision underlying cause of death codes U03, X60–X84, and Y87.0.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, mortality data file.



	10–14		15–24		25–44		45–64		65–74		75 and older
Year	Number	Deaths per 100,000	Number	Deaths per 100,000	Number	Deaths per 100,000	Number	Deaths per 100,000	Number	Deaths per 100,000	Number	Deaths per 100,000
2002	64	0.6	578	2.9	25,409	18.5	2,293	6.7	410	4.1	443	4.1
2003	56	0.5	607	3.0	25,203	18.1	2,450	6.9	381	3.8	414	3.8
2004	98	0.9	720	3.5	25,566	18.1	2,751	7.6	378	3.7	423	3.9
2005	68	0.7	714	3.5	25,907	18.1	2,682	7.2	404	4.0	450	4.1
2006	65	0.6	661	3.2	26,308	18.1	2,970	7.7	416	4.0	421	3.8
2007	52	0.5	659	3.1	27,269	18.5	3,197	8.1	441	4.2	411	3.7
2008	66	0.7	738	3.5	28,450	19.0	3,261	8.1	483	4.4	428	3.8
2009	88	0.9	776	3.6	29,089	19.2	3,480	8.5	523	4.6	389	3.5
2010	87	0.9	829	3.9	30,277	19.8	3,581	8.6	556	4.8	403	3.6
2011	85	0.8	863	4.0	31,003	20.0	3724	8.8	625	5.2	421	3.7
2012	85	0.8	954	4.5	31,780	20.4	3881	9.1	667	5.2	428	3.7
2013	141	1.4	975	4.5	32,055	20.3	3990	9.4	722	5.4	431	3.7
2014	150	1.5	990	4.6	33,162	20.7	4197	9.8	829	5.9	477	4.0
2015	158	1.6	1,132	5.3	33,994	21.1	4,383	10.2	829	5.7	540	4.5
2016	171	1.7	1,148	5.4	34,727	21.4	4,253	9.9	940	6.2	510	4.2
2017	169	1.7	1,225	5.8	36,782	22.4	4,172	9.7	982	6.2	501	4.0
2018	206	2.0	1,222	5.8	37,761	22.8	4,212	9.8	1,011	6.2	515	4.0
2019	203	2.0	1,154	5.5	37,256	22.4	4,104	9.6	985	5.9	568	4.3
2020	204	2.0	1,203	5.8	36,551	22.0	3,356	7.9	973	5.6	521	3.9
2021	241	2.3	1,285	6.1	38,358	22.85	3,468	8.2	1,004	5.6	561	4.4
2022	190	1.9	1,261	5.8	39,273	23.0	3,570	8.6	1,076	6.0	647	4.6

NOTE: Suicide deaths are identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision underlying cause-of-death codes U03, X60–X84, and Y87.0.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, mortality data file.

Suicide rates for males of all ages increased from 2002 to 2022, although rates for those ages 10–14 and 15–24 have declined since 2020.

Despite some fluctuations during the period, suicide rates for males in all age groups were higher in 2022 than 2002 (Figure 3, Table 3).
Between 2020 and 2022, rates decreased for males ages 10–14 (3.6 deaths per 100,000 population to 2.8) and 15–24 (22.4 to 21.1), while rates increased for males age 25 and older.
From 2002 through 2022, suicide rates were highest for males age 75 and older and lowest for males ages 10–14.

Figure 3. Suicide rate for males, by age group: United States, 2002–2022

¹Rate in 2022 was higher than in 2002 (p < 0.05).
²Rate increased from 2020 to 2022 (p < 0.05).
³Significant decreasing trend from 2002 to 2008; significant increasing trend 2008 to 2020 (p < 0.05). Rate was higher than for all other age groups for all years (p < 0.05).
⁴No statistically significant trend from 2002 to 2005; significant increasing trend from 2005 to 2017, with different rates of change over time; no statistically significant trend from 2017 to 2020 (p < 0.05).
⁵No statistically significant trend from 2002 to 2005; significant increasing trend from 2005 to 2018, with different rates of change over time; significant decreasing trend from 2018 to 2020 (p < 0.05).
⁶No statistically significant trend from 2002 to 2004; significant increasing trend from 2004 to 2018; significant decreasing trend from 2018 to 2020 (p < 0.05).
⁷Significant increasing trend from 2002 to 2004; no statistically significant trend from 2004 to 2007; significant increasing trend from 2007 to 2017; no statistically significant trend from 2017 to 2020 (p < 0.05).
⁸Rate decreased from 2020 to 2022 (p < 0.05).
⁹No statistically significant trend from 2002 to 2007; significant increasing trend from 2007 to 2020 (p < 0.05). Rate was lower than all other age groups for all years (p < 0.05).
NOTES: Suicide deaths are identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision underlying cause of death codes U03, X60–X84, and Y87.0.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, mortality data file.



	10–14		15–24		25–44		45–64		65–74		75 and older
Year	Number	Deaths per 100,000	Number	Deaths per 100,000	Number	Deaths per 100,000	Number	Deaths per 100,000	Number	Deaths per 100,000	Number	Deaths per 100,000
2002	196	1.8	3,432	16.4	9,440	22.5	7633	23.5	2053	24.5	2642	41.3
2003	188	1.7	3,381	15.9	9,294	22.3	7874	23.5	1954	23.1	2499	38.3
2004	185	1.7	3,596	16.7	9,209	22.2	8166	23.6	1901	22.2	2496	37.6
2005	202	1.9	3,498	16.1	9,129	22.1	8519	23.9	1940	22.3	2610	38.6
2006	151	1.4	3,528	16.0	9,118	22.1	9039	24.6	1968	22.2	2494	36.2
2007	128	1.2	3,481	15.7	9,433	22.9	9650	25.7	2003	22.0	2566	36.7
2008	149	1.4	3,560	16.0	9,398	22.8	10491	27.4	2313	24.3	2531	36.7
2009	171	1.6	3,595	16.1	9,435	23.0	10926	27.9	2394	24.3	2552	35.7
2010	180	1.7	3771	16.9	9,676	23.6	11602	29.2	2418	24.9	2617	36.0
2011	197	1.9	3959	17.6	9,906	24.0	11655	28.9	2554	24.4	2721	36.4
2012	221	2.1	3918	17.4	10,170	24.5	11910	29.5	2700	24.1	2853	37.5
2013	245	2.3	3903	17.3	10,066	24.1	11766	29.0	3072	26.0	2990	38.3
2014	275	2.6	4100	18.2	10,270	24.4	12116	29.7	3286	26.6	3110	38.9
2015	251	2.4	4,359	19.4	10,726	25.2	12107	29.5	3372	26.2	3171	38.7
2016	265	2.5	4,575	20.5	11,181	26.2	11943	29.1	3463	25.9	3291	39.2
2017	348	3.3	5,027	22.7	11,944	27.5	12371	30.1	3638	26.2	3447	39.7
2018	390	3.7	4,989	22.7	12,129	27.7	12673	31.0	3963	27.8	3613	39.9
2019	331	3.1	4,800	22.0	12,348	28.0	12146	29.9	3882	26.4	3738	39.9
2020	377	3.6	4,859	22.4	12,605	28.3	11053	27.3	3743	24.7	3900	40.5
2021	357	3.2	5,243	23.8	13,390	30	11200	27.1	4140	26.1	3947	42.2
2022	303	2.8	4,779	21.1	13,390	29.6	12075	29.5	4320	27.2	4395	43.9

For females, firearms were the leading means of suicide in 2022.

For females, poisoning was the leading means of suicide between 2002 and 2015. The poisoning-related suicide rate was significantly lower than the firearm-related rate from 2020 through 2022 and was lower than the suffocation-related rate from 2018 through 2021 (Figure 4, Table 4).
For females, the age-adjusted rate for firearm-related suicide increased from 2007 (1.4 deaths per 100,000 standard population) to 2016 (1.9), remained stable through 2020 (1.8), and then increased to 2.0 in 2022.
The rate for suffocation-related suicide (including hanging, asphyxiation, strangulation, and other means) for females increased from 0.8 in 2002 to 1.9 in 2018, but decreased to 1.6 in 2022.

Figure 4. Age-adjusted female suicide rate, by means of suicide: United States, 2002–2022

¹Significant increasing trend from 2002 to 2016; no significant trend from 2016 to 2022 (p < 0.05). Rate was higher than for all other groups from 2002 to 2016 (p < 0.05).
²No statistically significant trend from 2002 to 2007; significant increasing trend from 2007 to 2016; no statistically significant trend from 2016 to 2020; significant increasing trend from 2020 to 2022 (p < 0.05). Rate was higher than for all other groups for 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.05).
³Significant increasing trend from 2000 through 2018; significant decreasing trend from 2018 to 2022 (p < 0.05).
⁴No statistically significant trend from 2002 to 2010; significant increasing trend from 2010 to 2017; significant decreasing trend from 2017 to 2022 (p < 0.05).
NOTES: Suicide deaths are identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD–10) underlying cause-of-death codes U03, X60–X84, and Y87.0. Means of suicide are identified using ICD–10 codes X72–X74 for firearm, X60–X69 for poisoning, and X70 for suffocation. “Other means” includes: cut/pierce; drowning; falls; fire or flame; other land transport; struck by or against; other specified, classifiable injury; other specified, not elsewhere classified injury; and unspecified injury, as classified by ICD–10. Age-adjusted death rates are calculated using the direct method and the 2000 U.S. standard population.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, mortality data file.


Year	Firearm	Poisoning	Suffocation	Other means
2002	1.4	1.6	1.6	0.5
2003	1.4	1.6	0.8	0.4
2004	1.5	1.7	0.9	0.5
2005	1.4	1.7	0.9	0.4
2006	1.4	1.8	0.9	0.5
2007	1.4	1.8	1.0	0.4
2008	1.4	1.8	1.0	0.5
2009	1.5	1.8	1.1	0.4
2010	1.5	1.9	1.2	0.4
2011	1.6	1.9	1.3	0.4
2012	1.7	1.9	1.3	0.5
2013	1.8	1.9	1.4	0.5
2014	1.8	1.9	1.6	0.5
2015	1.8	2.0	1.7	0.5
2016	1.9	1.9	1.6	0.6
2017	1.9	1.9	1.8	0.6
2018	1.9	1.7	1.9	0.6
2019	1.8	1.7	1.8	0.4
2020	1.8	1.5	1.7	0.4
2021	2.0	1.5	1.7	0.5
2022	2.0	1.7	1.6	0.5

NOTES: Suicide deaths are identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD–10) underlying cause-of-death codes U03, X60–X84, and Y87.0. Means of suicide are identified using ICD-10 codes X72–X74 for firearm, X60–X69 for poisoning, and X70 for suffocation. “Other means” includes: cut/pierce; drowning; falls; fire or flame; other land transport; struck by or against; other specified, classifiable injury; other specified, not elsewhere classified injury; and unspecified injury, as classified by ICD–10. Age-adjusted death rates are deaths per 100,000 standard population and are calculated using the direct method and the 2000 U.S. standard population.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, mortality data file.

For males, firearms were the leading means of suicide across the period with rates increasing from 2006 through 2022.

Following a period of decline between 2002 (11.1 deaths per 100,000 standard population) and 2006 (10.3), the firearm-related suicide rate among males increased from 10.3 in 2006 to 13.5 in 2022 (Figure 5, Table 5).
The rate for suffocation-related suicide for males increased from 3.8 in 2002 to 6.7 in 2018 but decreased to 5.8 in 2022.
The rate for poisoning-related suicide for males was stable between 2002 (2.2) and 2010 (2.3), decreased though 2020 (1.7), and remained stable through 2022 (1.8).
Firearms were the leading means of suicide for males across the period.

Figure 5. Age-adjusted male suicide rate, by means of suicide: United States, 2002–2022

¹Significant decreasing trend from 2002 to 2006; significant increasing trend from 2006 to 2022 (p < 0.05). Rate was higher than for all other groups for all years (p < 0.05).
²Significant increasing trend from 2002 to 2018; with different rates of change; significant decreasing trend from 2018 to 2022 (p < 0.05).
³No statistically significant trend from 2002 to 2010; significant decreasing trend from 2010 to 2020, with different rates of change over time; no statistically significant trend from 2020 to 2022 (p < 0.05).
⁴No significant trend from 2002 to 2009; significant increasing trend from 2009 to 2022 (p < 0.05).
NOTES: Suicide deaths are identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD–10) underlying cause-of-death codes U03, X60–X84, and Y87.0. Means of suicide are identified using ICD–10 codes X72–X74 for firearm, X60–X69 for poisoning, and X70 for suffocation. “Other means” includes: cut/pierce; drowning; falls; fire or flame; other land transport; struck by or against; other specified, classifiable injury; other specified, not elsewhere classified injury; and unspecified injury, as classified by ICD–10. Age-adjusted death rates are calculated using the direct method and the 2000 U.S. standard population
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, mortality data file.


Year	Firearm	Poisoning	Suffocation	Other means
2002	11.1	2.2	3.8	1.4
2003	10.8	2.2	3.9	1.4
2004	10.4	2.3	4.2	1.3
2005	10.6	2.2	4.0	1.4
2006	10.3	2.2	4.2	1.4
2007	10.4	2.3	4.5	1.3
2008	10.7	2.3	4.7	1.4
2009	10.9	2.2	4.8	1.3
2010	11.2	2.3	5.0	1.4
2011	11.2	2.2	5.2	1.5
2012	11.5	2.2	5.2	1.5
2013	11.5	2.2	5.1	1.5
2014	11.4	2.2	5.6	1.5
2015	11.6	2.1	5.8	1.6
2016	12.0	2.0	5.7	1.7
2017	12.4	2.0	6.4	1.6
2018	12.6	1.9	6.7	1.7
2019	12.3	1.8	6.6	1.7
2020	12.5	1.7	6.1	1.7
2021	13.5	1.6	5.9	1.7
2022	13.5	1.8	5.8	1.8

NOTES: Suicide deaths are identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD–10) underlying cause-of-death codes U03, X60–X84, and Y87.0. Means of suicide are identified using ICD–10 codes X72–X74 for firearm, X60–X69 for poisoning, and X70 for suffocation. “Other means” includes: cut/pierce; drowning; falls; fire or flame; other land transport; struck by or against; other specified, classifiable injury; other specified, not elsewhere classified injury; and unspecified injury, as classified by ICD–10. Age-adjusted death rates are deaths per 100,000 standard population and are calculated using the direct method and the 2000 U.S. standard population.
SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System, mortality data file.

Summary

This report presents suicide rates in the United States from 2002 through 2022 for males and females in total and by age and means of suicide. From 2002 to 2018, the total rate increased 30%, from 10.9 deaths per 100,000 standard population to 14.2, which was followed by two consecutive years of declines in 2019 (13.9) and 2020 (13.5). After these declines, however, the rate increased through 2022. The rate in 2022 (14.2), which was the same as the rate in 2018, marks the highest age-adjusted suicide rate in the United States since 1941 (4).

Rates increased for nearly all age groups between 2002 and 2018, followed by a period of decline or stability between 2018 and 2020. Recent changes between 2020 and 2022 have shown increasing trends among some age groups. For age 25 and older, rates for both males and females increased between 2020 and 2022, although the rate increase for females ages 65–74 was not significant. In contrast, for age groups 10–14 and 15–24, rates for females remained similar between 2020 and 2022, while rates for males declined.

For females, firearm-related suicide has been the leading means of suicide since 2020, when rates became significantly higher than poisoning-related suicide rates. Rates of suffocation-related suicide for females increased over the period and surpassed poisoning in 2018, although a recent decline resulted in a similar rate to poisoning in 2022. For males, rates of firearm-related suicide have been increasing since 2006 and remain consistently higher than suffocation, poisoning, and other means. Suffocation-related suicide remained the second leading means of suicide in males across the period, followed by poisoning.

Data source and methods

Data were analyzed using National Vital Statistics System multiple cause-of-death mortality files for 2002 through 2022 (5). Suicide deaths were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision underlying cause-of-death codes U03, X60–X84, and Y87.0 (6). For Figure 4 and Figure 5, means of suicide were identified using ICD–10 codes X72–X74 for firearm, X60–X69 for poisoning, and X70 for suffocation. “Other” includes: cut/pierce (X78); drowning (X71); falls (X80); fire and flame (X76); other land transport (X82); struck by or against (X79); other specified, classifiable injury (U03.0, X75, and X81); other specified, not elsewhere classified injury (X83 and Y87.0); and unspecified injury, as classified by ICD–10 (U03.9 and X84).

Age-adjusted death rates were calculated using the direct method and the 2000 U.S. standard population (7). Although suicide deaths for children ages 5–9 years are included in total numbers and age-adjusted rates, they are not shown as part of age-specific numbers or rates because of the small number of suicide deaths per year in this age group.

Trends were evaluated using the Joinpoint Regression Program (5.0.2) (8). Joinpoint software was used to fit weighted least-squares regression models to the rates on the logarithmic scale. Analyses were set to allow as many as four joinpoints across the period, as few as two observed time points from any given joinpoint to either end of the data, and as few as one observed time point between any two joinpoints. The permutation tests for model (number of joinpoints) significance were set at an overall alpha level of 0.05 (8). Pairwise comparisons of rates (for example, age-adjusted rates for males compared with females and year to year comparisons) were conducted using the z test with an alpha level of 0.05 (8). Both Joinpoint software and pairwise z tests were used to discuss changes in rates over time.

About the authors

The authors are with the National Center for Health Statistics. Matthew F. Garnett is with the Division of Analysis and Epidemiology, and Sally C. Curtin is with the Division of Vital Statistics.

References

National Center for Health Statistics. CDC WONDER. 1999–2020 Underlying Cause of Death by Bridged-Race Categories and 2018–2022 Underlying Cause of Death by Single-Race Categories. 2023.
Garnett MF, Curtin SC. Suicide mortality in the United States, 2001–2021. NCHS Data Brief, no 464. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2023. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:125705.
Curtin SC, Garnett MF, Ahmad FB. Provisional numbers and rates of suicide by month and demographic characteristics: United States, 2022. Vital Statistics Rapid Release; no 34. November 2023. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:133702.
National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System. Age-adjusted death rates for selected causes, death registration states, 1900–32, and United States, 1933–98.
National Center for Health Statistics. Public-use data file documentation: Mortality multiple cause-of-death. 2022.
World Health Organization. International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems, 10th revision (ICD–10). 2008 ed. 2009
Kochanek KD, Murphy SL, Xu JQ, Arias E. Deaths: Final data for 2020. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol 72 no 10. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2023. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:131355
National Cancer Institute. Joinpoint Regression Program (Version 5.0.2) [computer software]. 2023

Suggested citation

Garnett MF, Curtin SC. Suicide mortality in the United States, 2002–2022. NCHS Data Brief, no 509. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2024. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/160504.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission; citation as to source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health Statistics

Brian C. Moyer, Ph.D., Acting Director
Amy M. Branum, Ph.D., Associate Director for Science

Division of Analysis and Epidemiology

Irma E. Arispe, Ph.D., Director
Kimberly A. Lochner, Sc.D., Associate Director for Science

Division of Vital Statistics

Paul D. Sutton, Ph.D., Acting Director
Andrés A. Berruti, Ph.D., M.A., Associate Director for Science