Suicide Statistics

We would like to acknowledge the information provided by ABS (Causes of Death, Australia, 2021 | Australian Bureau of Statistics (abs.gov.au), Suicide Prevention Australia (Stats & Facts – Suicide Prevention Australia) National LGBTI Health Alliance (https://www.lgbtiqhealth.org.au/statistics) and Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (Data from suicide registers – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (aihw.gov.au).
Please note the data noted here will be update as new data comes to hand.

When referring to or talking about statistics, we recognise that every number represents a person, a loved one, a community member. Research undertaken by COAG Health Council identified that 89% of people know someone who had attempted and 85% knew of someone who had died by suicide, so we need to acknowledge and consider the lived experience of each and every person we meet…

The reasons people take their own life are complex and often there is no single reason why a person attempts or dies by suicide, and although there are a number of common health and psychosocial reasons for people taking their lives, these are as individual as the person themselves. We therefore recognise stressors and life events and the impact these have on people, and if you have lived or living experience of suicide and are finding this information difficult, please reach out to ourselves, a helpline or trusted health professional or friend.

General suicide data 2021 – ABS (released 2022)

• There were 3,144 deaths due to suicide (75% or 2358 males and 25% or 786 females). This compares to 3,138 suicides in 2020.
• The median age at death for people who died by suicide was 44.8 compared to 82 years for all causes of death. Because suicide often occurs at a younger age than other causes of death the potential years of life lost are high – meaning those who died by suicide lost on average 33.2 years of life
• Suicide was the 15th leading cause of death, which is the same for 2020.
• Over 90% of people who died by suicide had at least one identifiable risk factors with psychosocial risk factors being the most common e.g. intimate relationship issues, personal history of self harm and or separation and divorce. Mental and behaviourial disorders were present in 63% of people who died by suicide.
• Research suggests about 135 people are exposed to each suicide death

Suicide rates by gender

2,358 males died by suicide.

• Suicide was the 10th leading cause of death.
• Their median age at death was 45.8 years.
• Three quarters of people who died by suicide in 2021 were male.
• The suicide rate for males decreased by 2.3% from 2020.
• The suicide rate for males increased between 2011 and 2020 from 17 to 18.2 deaths per 100,000.

755 females died by suicide.

• Suicide was the 24nd leading cause of death.
• Their median age at death was 42.9 years.
• The suicide rate for females increased by 5% from 2020.
• The suicide rate for females increased between 2011 and 2020 from 5.1 to 5.1 deaths per 100,000.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

The suicide rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is twice that of non-Indigenous people in Australia. This difference is due to multiple, complex and interrelated social, cultural and historical influences, including colonisation, the impact of the stolen generation, transgenerational grief and trauma, racism and continued socioeconomic disadvantage. We do however acknowledge that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders may never experience suicidal thoughts or behaviour, and aspects of their culture and connection to country can be a significant strength.

• 196 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people died by suicide.
• Their median age was 29.6 years.
• Suicide was the 5th leading cause of death.
• Those living in Western Australia had the highest age-standardised suicide rate.
• 83.7% were aged between 15 – 44 years.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Males

• Suicide was the 2nd leading cause of death
• The median age at death was 29.8 years.
• Over two thirds of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who died by suicide were male.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Females

• Suicide was the 7th leading cause of death
• The median age at death was 27.7 years.

LGBTQI

The current ABS census doesn’t ask about sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status. There are also no standardised questions on sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status in suicide death data records. Thus, the data recorded below although meaningful does not provide a population-level data nor coordinated recording mechanisms for those who have died by suicide and identify as members of the LGBTQI community.

• LGBTQI people have higher rates of mental ill-health and suicide than the general population, due to discrimination and stigma.
• The 2020 Private Lives 3 report found 41.9% of LGBTQI people have considered suicide in the previous 12 months, with 78.4$ considering suicide at some point in their lives.
• LGBTQI young people aged 16 – 27 years are 5 times more likely to attempt suicide that young people who do not identify.
• Transgender people aged 18 years and over are nearly 11 times more like to attempt suicide that adults who do not identify (48.1% report having made an attempt on their life).
• People with an intersex variation aged 16 years and over are 6 times more likely to attempt suicide (19% report having made an attempt on their lives.
• 75.3% of LGBTQI participants in a study stated that they did not use a crisis support service during a recent personal or mental health crisis.

Worldwide – World Health Organisation

• An estimated 703,000 people die by suicide every year, one every 40 seconds.
• Suicide 1.3% all deaths worldwide, 17th leading cause of death
• 77% of global suicides occur in low and middle-income countries.
• The global rate of suicide is over twice as high among men than women.