South Africa—Suicide Mortality Rate (per 100,000)
Category: HealthSource: World Bank World Development Indicators ↗Global Rank: #6 of 185Updated April 2026
Latest Value
22.3
2021
YoY Change
+5.7%
2020 → 2021
Global Rank
#6
of 185 countries
Maximum
22.3
2021
Minimum
13.1
2000
CAGR
+2.6%
22 years
Last
22.3
Previous
21.1
Highest
22.3
Lowest
13.1
Source
World Bank World Development Indicators
South Africa's suicide rate was 22.3 in 2021, ranking #6 out of 185 countries. This represents a +5.7% change from 2020. Over the past 22 years, the highest recorded value was 22.3 (2021) and the lowest was 13.1 (2000). Data sourced from the World Bank World Development Indicators.
Source: World Bank World Development Indicators
Historical Data
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 22.3 | +5.7% |
| 2020 | 21.1 | +4.8% |
| 2019 | 20.1 | +5.2% |
| 2018 | 19.1 | +5.3% |
| 2017 | 18.2 | -7.1% |
| 2016 | 19.6 | -5.6% |
| 2015 | 20.7 | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 20.1 | +7.3% |
| 2013 | 18.7 | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 18.2 | +5.1% |
| 2011 | 17.3 | -7.9% |
| 2010 | 18.8 | +14.4% |
| 2009 | 16.4 | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 16.8 | +5.5% |
| 2007 | 16 | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 16.1 | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 15.6 | -2.7% |
| 2004 | 16.1 | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 15.8 | +7.9% |
| 2002 | 14.6 | +10.2% |
| 2001 | 13.3 | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 13.1 |
Top Countries — Suicide Mortality Rate (per 100,000)
| # | Country | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lesotho | 28.7 | 2021 |
| 2 | Korea, Rep. | 27.5 | 2021 |
| 3 | Eswatini | 27.2 | 2021 |
| 4 | Guyana | 24.8 | 2021 |
| 5 | Uruguay | 24.8 | 2021 |
| 6 | South Africa | 22.3 | 2021 |
| 7 | Suriname | 22.3 | 2021 |
| 8 | Lithuania | 22.1 | 2021 |
| 9 | Russian Federation | 21.4 | 2021 |
| 10 | Ukraine | 21.2 | 2021 |
About This Indicator
Definition
Suicide mortality rate is the number of suicide deaths in a year per 100,000 population. Crude suicide rate (not age-adjusted).
Methodology
Data compiled by World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/)., World Health Organization (WHO), uri: https://www.who.int/data/gho.