Changes in Suicide Rates in the United States From 2022 to 2023

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NCHS Data Brief No. 541, September 2025

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Matthew F. Garnett, M.P.H., and Anne M. Zehner, M.P.H.

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Key findings

Data from the National Vital Statistics System

  • The overall age-adjusted suicide rate increased from 2003 to 2018 but did not significantly change between 2018 (14.2 deaths per 100,000 standard population) and 2023 (14.1).
  • The suicide rate increased for females age 75 and older from 2022 (4.6) to 2023 (5.1).
  • The suicide rate decreased for males age 75 and older from 2022 (43.9) to 2023 (40.7).
  • From 2022 to 2023, the age-adjusted suicide rate significantly changed for five states: increasing for Arkansas and decreasing for North Dakota, Iowa, Connecticut, and Arizona.
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In 2023, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in the United States, with no change in ranking since 2021 (1–3). At younger ages, suicide has a higher rank as a leading cause of death. Suicide was the second leading cause of death in 2023 for people ages 10–14, 15–24, and 25–44 (2). This report provides final 2023 mortality rates for suicide and shows changes in rates by age group, sex, and state of residency between 2022 and 2023.

Keywords: intentional self-harm, mental health, suicidology, violence, National Vital Statistics System (NVSS)

Starting in 2017 for females and 2018 for males, age-adjusted suicide rates have not significantly changed.

  • The total age-adjusted suicide rate increased from 2003 (10.8 deaths per 100,000 standard population) to 2018 (14.2) but did not significantly change between 2018 and 2023. The 2023 rate (14.1) was similar to the 2022 rate (14.2) (Figure 1, Table 1).
  • The suicide rate for males increased from 2003 (18.1) to 2018 (22.8), but the rate did not significantly change between 2018 and 2023 (22.7). The 2023 rate was lower than the 2022 rate (23.0).
  • The suicide rate for females increased from 2003 (4.2) to 2017 (6.1), but the 2023 rate (5.9) was lower than in 2017. The 2023 rate was the same as the 2022 rate.
  • The suicide rate for males was three to four times the rate for females across the 2003–2023 period.

Figure 1 is a line graph showing age-adjusted suicide rates overall and by sex from 2003 to 2023
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From 2022 to 2023, the suicide rate for females significantly changed for adults age 75 and older.

  • Between 2022 and 2023, the suicide rate for females age 75 and older increased by 10.9%, from 4.6 deaths per 100,000 population to 5.1. Changes were not significant for any other age group (Figure 2, Table 2).
  • In 2022 and 2023, the lowest suicide rate for females was among those ages 10–14, and the highest rate was for those ages 45–64.

Figure 2. Suicide rate for females, by age group: United States, 2022 and 2023
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The suicide rate for males significantly changed for adults age 75 and older from 2022 to 2023.

  • From 2022 to 2023, the suicide rate for males age 75 and older decreased by 7.3%, from 43.9 deaths per 100,000 population to 40.7. Changes were not significant for any other age group (Figure 3, Table 3).
  • In 2022 and 2023, the lowest suicide rate for males was among those ages 10–14, and the highest rate was for those age 75 and older.

Figure 3. Suicide rate for males, by age group: United States, 2022 and 2023
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From 2022 to 2023, the age-adjusted suicide rate increased for one state and decreased for four others, with no change in rates for most states.

  • The only significant state increase in the suicide rate from 2022 to 2023 was for Arkansas, from 18.0 deaths per 100,000 population to 20.2 (Figure 4, Table 4).
  • From 2022 to 2023, the suicide rate significantly decreased for four states: North Dakota (from 22.5 to 17.8), Iowa (18.5 to 15.5), Connecticut (10.6 to 9.1), and Arizona (20.6 to 19.2).
  • The other 45 states and the District of Columbia experienced no significant change in the age-adjusted suicide rate between 2022 and 2023.

Figure 4. Change in age-adjusted suicide rate, by state: United States, 2022 to 2023
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Summary

This report presents suicide rates from 2003 through 2023, with a focus on recent changes between 2022 and 2023, by age, sex, and state of residency at death. After increasing from 2003 to 2018, the overall age-adjusted rate did not significantly change between 2018 and 2023.

For both males and females, age-specific suicide rates did not significantly change between 2022 and 2023 for age groups younger than 75. For females age 75 and older, the rate increased by 10.9% from 2022 to 2023. For males age 75 and older, the rate decreased 7.3% from 2022 to 2023. Among both males and females, the rates for 2022 and 2023 were lowest among those ages 10–14. In both years, the rate for males was highest among men age 75 and older, and the rate for females highest among women ages 45–64.

The age-adjusted suicide rate significantly changed from 2022 to 2023 for five states. The rate increased for Arkansas and decreased for North Dakota, Iowa, Connecticut, and Arizona.

Data source and methods

Data were analyzed using National Vital Statistics System cause-of-death mortality files for 2003 through 2023 on CDC WONDER (1,2). Suicide deaths were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD–10) underlying cause-of-death codes U03, X60–X84, and Y87.0 (4).

Age-adjusted death rates were calculated using the direct method and the 2000 U.S. standard population (5). 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.

Reported significant patterns in trend analyses may differ from previous reports that use a different time period, particularly with a different start and end year. Trends were evaluated using the Joinpoint Regression Program (version 5.0.2) (6). 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. Pairwise comparisons of rates (as in age-adjusted rates for males compared with females and year-to-year comparisons) were conducted using a z test with an alpha level of 0.05 (5). Both Joinpoint software and pairwise z tests were used to evaluate changes in rates over time.

About the authors

Matthew F. Garnett and Anne M. Zehner are with the National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Analysis and Epidemiology.

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC WONDER: 1999–2020 underlying cause of death. 2021. Available from: https://wonder.cdc.gov/deaths-by-underlying-cause.html.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC WONDER: 2018–2023 underlying cause of death. 2024. Available from: https://wonder.cdc.gov/deaths-by-underlying-cause.html.
  3. Garnett MF, Curtin SC. Suicide mortality in the United States, 2002–2022. NCHS Data Brief. 2024 Sep;(509):1–13. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/160504.
  4. World Health Organization. International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems, 10th revision (ICD–10). 2008 ed. 2009.
  5. Xu J, Murphy SL, Kochanek KD, Arias E. Deaths: Final data for 2022. Natl Vital Stat Rep. 2025 Jun 10;74(4):1–138. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/174588.
  6. National Cancer Institute. Joinpoint Regression Program (Version 5.0.2) [computer software]. 2023.

Suggested citation

Garnett MF, Zehner AM. Changes in suicide rates in the United States from 2022 to 2023. NCHS Data Brief. 2025 Sep;(541):1–9. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc/174625.

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., 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