Suicide Data

2019 U.S. total suicides: 47,511 with a 14.5 crude rate

Of note: These numbers represent a decrease from the 2018 numbers and rate; see below. Caution in interpreting these decreases is urged by leaders in the field.

Washington & U.S. five-year suicide totals & crude rates per 100,000

These statistics compare Washington state’s annual suicide totals and suicide crude rates per 100,000 with the matching national statistics for 2015 through 2019.

WA Suicides    Rates    U.S. Suicides  Rates

2019 – 1,263    16.6        47,511           14.5

2018 – 1,252    16.6        48,344          14.8

2017 – 1,297    17.5        47,173           14.5

2016 – 1,141    15.6        44,965           13.9

2015 – 1,137    15.8        44,193           13.8

Washington’s 2019 rate per 100,000 of 14.5 is 24th in the nation.

U.S.A. SUICIDE: 2019 Official Final Data

This two-page summary of statistics lists the following:

  • Suicide rates by ethnicity, gender, age groups and methods
  • Suicide attempt estimates
  • Suicide loss and exposure estimates
  • 10-year history of suicide rates by age and gender
  • Top 11 national causes of death
  • State and region suicide raw numbers and rates for 2019

This overview is produced by the American Association of Suicidology.

Download document here >>

 

 

 

 

In 2017, 1,292 residents died by suicide, making it the eighth leading cause of death overall in Washington state. The state’s suicide rate ranks 21st highest in the nation at 17.5 deaths per 100,000 people, higher than the national suicide rate of 14.5.  Suicide is the second leading cause of death for 10-34 year olds in Washington. (Source: WA Department of Health)

United States:

In the United States, 47,173 people died in 2017 making suicide the tenth leading cause of death. On average, there are 129 suicides per day, and over 1,179,000 annual attempts. In 2017, firearms accounted for 50.6% of all suicides (Source: American Association of Suicidology).

In 2016, 9.8 million US adults aged 18 or older thought seriously about attempting suicide, including the 2.8 million who made suicide plans and 1.3 million who made non-fatal attempts (Source: SAMHSA).

Suicide rates are on the rise across the nation but nowhere more so than in rural counties, according to a new study by a team of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers. The study maps, in unprecedented detail, county-level changes in suicide rates between 2005 and 2015. The animation below, generated from figures in the report, shows a persistent, nationwide increase in suicide rates at the county level during that period.

Global:

Suicide is a major public health issue – and around the clock, its impact is felt globally. Close to 800,000 people die due to suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Suicide is a global phenomenon; in fact, 79% of suicides occurred in low- and middle-income countries in 2016.  There are indications that for each adult who died of suicide there may have been more than 20 others attempting suicide. (Source: WHO).

Additional Resources

Washington State

United States