Download document: Samaritans Suicide Statistics Report
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Suicide statistics and trends for the UK and Republic of Ireland.
We’re the only organisation that collates suicide statistics for the UK, its nations, and the Republic of Ireland.
Here is a summary of key facts from suicides that occurred in 2019. This includes suicides in England and Wales and Scotland only, due to delays in availability of data for Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the overall UK data. Figures for the UK for 2019 will be released by the Office for National Statistics at a later stage.
There were 5,691 suicides in England and Wales in 2019, that is 321 more compared to the year before. The suicide rate has remained the same as in 2018– 11 deaths per 100,000 people, but the rates are still higher than in recent years.
There were 833 suicides in 2019 in Scotland. This is 49 more on 2018, increasing the overall suicide rate from 15.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2018 to 16.6 per 100,000 in 2019.
The rate for females under 25 has increased by 93.8% since 2012, to its highest level in 2019.
Men aged 45 - 49 and women aged 50 - 54 had the highest suicide rates in England and Wales in 2019. The rate for men aged 45 - 49 was 25.5 per 100,000 and the rate for women aged 50 - 54 was 7.4 per 100,000.
Here is a summary of the key facts and trends from suicides that occurred in the UK and Republic of Ireland in 2018.
In the UK and Republic of Ireland, there were 6,944 suicides in 2018. In the UK, there were 6,507 suicides in 2018. In the Republic of Ireland, there were 437 suicides in 2018.
Deaths by suicide rose by 10.9% in the UK in 2018.
Men aged 45 - 49 still have the highest rate of suicides. The suicide rate increased for this group in 2018.
In Scotland, the suicide rate among young people aged 15 - 24 increased by 52.7%. This is the highest it has been since 2007.
We publish the UK suicide facts and trends annually in our Suicide Statistics Report. You can download the latest release of the report below.
17.9 mb - PDF
In England and Wales the standard of proof used by coroners to determine whether a death was caused by suicide was lowered in July 2018. For further information see page 32 of Samaritans Suicide Statistics Report.
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