Suicides in England and Wales: 1981 to 2025

All our statistics on mortality in England and Wales come from death registrations. When registering a death, the date the death occurred and the date it was registered are both captured, allowing mortality data to be presented on both a registration basis and an occurrence basis.

Sensitive content

This article contains sensitive themes. If you are struggling to cope, please call Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK and Ireland) or contact other sources of support, such as those listed on the NHS help for suicidal thoughts web page.

If you are a journalist reporting on suicide, read the Samaritans' media guidelines. Irresponsible reporting can have damaging consequences.

Suicide registrations in 2025

In England and Wales in 2025:

• there were 6,162 suicide deaths registered, equal to an age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) of 11.3 deaths registered per 100,000 people; this was similar to the previous year, when there were 11.4 deaths registered per 100,000 people

• males continued to have a higher ASMR for suicides deaths than females with 17.5 suicides registered per 100,000 males compared with 5.5 suicides registered per 100,000 females; both rates are similar to the previous year

• for males, those aged 50 to 54 years had the highest age-specific suicide rate at 28.0 deaths registered per 100,000 people

• for females, those aged 45 to 49 years had the highest age-specific suicide rate at 7.7 deaths registered per 100,000 people

When looking at ASMRs for suicide deaths registered in 2025 by area of usual residence:

• suicide deaths in Wales decreased to 14.3 deaths registered per 100,000 people, down from 15.7 deaths registered per 100,000 people in 2024

• in England, there were 11.1 suicide deaths registered per 100,000 people, the same rate as in 2024 and 2023

• London had the lowest ASMR for suicide deaths of any English region, at 7.3 deaths registered per 100,000 people

• the North East had the highest ASMR of any English region, at 14.0 suicide deaths per 100,000 people

Suicide occurrences in 2024 and previous years

After consulting with users of our statistics, we are presenting more occurrence-based suicide statistics. To make each occurrence year comparable, we have limited the follow-up period, so that they contain deaths registered up to 18 months after the end of the year in which they occurred.

The figures for 2024 include provisional death registration data up to Quarter 2 (Apr to June), 2026.

The figures show that:

• 5,626 suicide deaths occurred in England and Wales in 2024, equal to an ASMR of 10.4 suicide deaths occurring per 100,000 people
• the rate of suicide deaths occurring has been fairly stable in England and Wales since 2018
• in England, 10.3 suicide deaths occurred per 100,000 people in 2024 (5,280 suicide deaths), a similar rate to 2023 (10.4 suicide deaths occurring per 100,000 people, or 5,316 suicide deaths)
• in Wales, 11.8 suicide deaths occurred per 100,000 people in 2024 (325 suicide deaths), compared with 13.9 suicide deaths occurring per 100,000 people in 2023 (385 suicide deaths)

In future releases in this series, we will use improved statistical methods to produce timelier death occurrence estimates, which will account for long registration delays for some deaths, and allow for reliable comparisons between years. For more information, see our blog How suicide statistics are changing.

The difference between death occurrences and registrations

There is usually a delay between the date when a death occurs and the date it is registered. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) only receives the record after the registration has taken place. The number of days between death occurrence and registration varies and can be longer in certain cases. This is particularly true of suicides, which cannot be registered until an inquest has taken place. This means that many suicides are not registered in the same year they happened, which affects how to interpret our statistics.

Find more information about death registrations and occurrences in our Suicides rates in the UK quality and methods guide.

How we define suicide

We base this release on the accredited official statistics definition of suicide. This includes all deaths from intentional self-harm for persons aged 10 years and over, and deaths caused by injury or poisoning where the intent was undetermined for those aged 15 years and over.

With these statistics, you can:

• explore complete and consistent data for long-term analysis by using suicide registrations

• find trends in suicide occurrences, with the understanding that figures may be revised upwards as more deaths are registered

• compare suicide deaths between different groups of people and time periods meaningfully because we use age-standardised mortality rates, which allow for age differences in the structure of populations

• compare suicide figures over time, but take into account the change to the standard of proof

With these statistics, you cannot:

• get final estimates for death occurrences in 2025; we have used provisional suicide registration data for 2026 in our suicide occurrence figures for 2024

Find more guidance in Section 11: Quality, methods and data sources.

Figure 1: In 2025, suicide registration rates decreased in Wales but remained stable in England

Age-standardised suicide rates (for those aged 10 years and over excluding non-residents), England and Wales, registered between 1981 and 2025

Notes:

1. Figures are for deaths registered, rather than deaths occurring in each calendar year. Because of the length of time it takes to complete a coroner’s inquest, it can take months or even years for a suicide to be registered.

2. Standard of proof for suicides was lowered on 26 July 2018, to the "civil standard"; on the balance of probabilities. Previously a "criminal standard" was applied; beyond all reasonable doubt.

Short-term trends

The age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) for suicide deaths registered in England was the same in 2025, as in 2024 and 2023, at 11.1 suicide deaths registered per 100,000 people.

The ASMR for suicide deaths registered in Wales decreased from 15.7 deaths per 100,000 people in 2024 to 14.3 deaths per 100,000 people in 2025.

Long-term trend

Overall, ASMRs for suicide deaths registered in England and Wales generally declined from 1981 (the start of our series) to 2007. The rate then remained fairly stable until 2015, before a slight decrease in 2017. However, since then, we have seen suicide registration rates generally increasing.

Trends in suicide deaths are very complex, with many factors contributing to changes. The change to the standard of proof in 2018 is one important contributor to trends in recent years, where there was a lowering of the level of evidence that a coroner needed to conclude that a death was caused by suicide. The level went from the criminal standard, "beyond all reasonable doubt" to the civil standard, where the coroner considered that suicide was the cause of death "on the balance of probabilities".

The change affected the overall suicide rates, and how deaths are classified within the definition of suicide. This is an important factor to consider when examining long-term trends in deaths by suicide. You can find out more in our Understanding suicide registrations following a change to the standard of proof in England and Wales article.

Many deaths are not registered on the same day that they occur, or even in the same year. Deaths by suicide often see particularly long delays between the date they happened and the date they are registered. This is because they must be certified by a coroner before they are registered.

The median time taken to register a suicide death in 2025 was 188 days in England and 249 days in Wales. This means that suicide registration data include deaths by suicide that occurred in previous years. It also means that statistics based on the year of occurrence must be updated over time as additional deaths are registered. So, our occurrence numbers for a given year are never final and may not match those previously published.

Suicide occurrences in 2024

Based on death registration data up to the end of June 2026, we are aware of 5,626 suicide deaths that occurred in 2024 in England and Wales.

This is the equivalent to an age-standardised mortality rate for suicide deaths of 10.4 per 100,000 people.

Suicide occurrences over time

To allow meaningful comparisons of suicide occurrences over time, we have produced data using a consistent registration follow-up period of 18 months after the end of each occurrence year. For example, for 2024 suicide occurrences, with the use of provisional death registration data we've included deaths registered up to June 2026.

Why a consistent registration follow-up period is important

Figure 2 illustrates why using a consistent registration follow-up period is important when analysing trends in suicide occurrence rates. If we use all available registrations from our finalised registration data up to the end of 2025, it appears as though the age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) for suicide deaths has fallen in 2024. However, this apparent decline reflects incomplete registrations rather than a genuine reduction in suicide deaths, as many deaths that occurred in 2024 had not yet been registered by the end of 2025.

However, with the addition of provisional registration data for 2026 we have been able to apply a consistent 18-month registration follow-up period for every occurrence year. This leads to a more stable trend in the ASMR for suicide occurrences, indicating that the apparent decrease in 2024 is largely explained by registration delays.

Comparing suicide occurrences and registrations

Suicide rates based on year of death occurrence and year of death registration have shown broadly similar long-term trends in England and Wales. However, differences between the two are more noticeable in recent years because of delays between a suicide death occurring and being registered. Figures 3 and 4 show how trends in suicide registrations have begun to diverge from the trend in suicide occurrences, particularly in recent years.

For example, the registration-based suicide rate in Wales increased from 13.9 to 15.7 deaths per 100,000 population between 2023 and 2024, while the occurrence-based suicide rate decreased from 13.9 to 11.8. So, the interpretation of recent trends, particularly in Wales, differs depending on whether rates are based on registrations or occurrences.

The age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) for suicide deaths registered in Wales decreased to 14.3 deaths per 100,000 people, down from 15.7 registered deaths per 100,000 people in 2024. In England, there were 11.1 suicide deaths registered per 100,000 people, the same rate as in 2024 and 2023.

Consistent with previous years, the North East was the English region with the highest ASMR for suicide deaths registered in 2025 and London the lowest; at 14.0 suicide deaths registered per 100,000 people and 7.3 suicide deaths registered per 100,000 people, respectively.

Figure 5: The North East was the English region with the highest rate for suicide deaths registered in 2025

Age-standardised suicide rates (for those aged 10 years and over) for England, Wales, and English regions, deaths registered in 2025

Notes:

1. The area is based on the person’s usual residence as provided by the informant upon registration in England and Wales. Figures for England and Wales combined (area code K04000001) include deaths of non-residents. Figures for England and Wales separately and for regions of England exclude deaths of non-residents and are based on the latest available postcode boundaries (August 2026).

2.  Figures are for deaths registered, rather than deaths occurring in each calendar year. Because of the length of time it takes to complete a coroner’s inquest, it can take months or even years for a suicide to be registered. 

There were decreases in the ASMRs for suicide deaths registered in five of the nine English regions between 2024 and 2025. The largest decrease was in the East Midlands, with the ASMR for suicide deaths registered decreasing from 12.1 suicide deaths per 100,000 people in 2024, to 10.2 in 2025.

The biggest increase was in the South West, with the ASMR for suicide deaths registered increasing from 11.3 to 13.7 suicide deaths registered per 100,000 people.

The age group with the highest age-specific rate for suicide deaths registered in 2025 was those aged 50 to 54 years, with 17.4 deaths registered per 100,000 people. This has been the case since 2021.

Figure 6: Those aged 50 to 54 years had the highest rate for suicide deaths registered in 2025

Age-specific suicide rates by five-year age groups (for those aged 10 years and over, including non-residents), England and Wales, registered between 1981 and 2025

Notes:

1. Age-specific suicide rate per 100,000 population.
2.  Unreliable rates, with fewer than 20 deaths, are excluded.
3.  Figures are for deaths registered, rather than deaths occurring in each calendar year. Because of the length of time it takes to complete a coroner’s inquest, it can take months or even years for a suicide to be registered.

For men, those aged 50 to 54 had the highest age-specific rate of any age group in 2025 (28.0 suicide deaths registered per 100,000 people). This shows a consistent pattern with 2024 where males aged 50 to 54 also had the highest age-specific rate for suicide deaths registered of any age group, at 27.3 deaths registered per 100,000 people.

Among females in 2025, those aged 45 to 49 years had the highest age-specific suicide rate at 7.7 deaths registered per 100,000 people. This is also consistent with 2024, where females aged 45 to 49 years had the highest rate at 7.9 suicide deaths registered per 100,000 people.

The most common method of suicide in England and Wales continued to be hanging, strangulation and suffocation, which accounted for 55.5% of all suicides registered in 2025 (3,422 deaths).

The second most common method in 2025 continued to be poisoning, totalling 21.4% of suicide deaths registered (1,317 deaths).

Figure 7: The percentage of suicides caused by hanging and poisoning decreased slightly in 2025

Percentage of suicides by method (for those aged 10 years and over, including non-residents), England and Wales, registered between 2001 and 2025

Notes:

1. The "Other" category includes methods of suicide such as firearm, smoke, fire and flames, and unspecified events.
2. For more information regarding definitions, see the "Notes" worksheet in our Suicides in England and Wales dataset.
3.  Figures are for deaths registered, rather than deaths occurring in each calendar year. Because of the length of time it takes to complete a coroner’s inquest, it can take months or even years for a suicide to be registered.

Suicide

This release is based on the accredited official statistics definition of suicide. This includes all deaths from intentional self-harm for persons aged 10 years and over, and deaths caused by injury or poisoning where the intent was undetermined for those aged 15 years and over. Find further information in our Suicide rates in the UK quality and methods guide.

Registration delay

Figures are based on deaths registered in each calendar year, rather than the date on which the death occurs. The difference between these dates is known as the registration delay.

Age-specific mortality rate

Age-specific mortality rate is the total number of deaths per 100,000 people of an age group, used to allow comparisons between specified age groups.

Age-standardised mortality rate

In this statistical article, age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) refers to a weighted average of the age-specific mortality rates per 100,000 people (aged 10 years and over) and standardised to the 2013 European Standard Population. ASMRs allow for differences in the age structure of populations and for valid comparisons to be made between geographic areas, between sexes, and over time.

Standard of proof

The level of evidence that coroners need when determining whether a death was caused by suicide. On 26 July 2018, this changed from the criminal standard of "beyond all reasonable doubt" to the civil standard of "on the balance of probabilities".

Other statistics producers also publish statistics on suicides. We have labelled them as highly, broadly and not comparable with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) statistics. This is to understand if you can compare or combine them with the ONS statistics.

Read why these statistics are highly, broadly or not comparable with the ONS statistics in our Suicides rates in the UK quality and methods guide.

Data on suicides from:

• Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) are not comparable with our data

• Public Health Wales are not comparable with our data

• National Records of Scotland (NRS) are broadly comparable with our data

• Northern Ireland Research and Statistics Agency (NISRA) are highly comparable with our data

About the statistics

About the data source

Statistical designation

The Office for Statistics Regulation independently reviewed these accredited official statistics in February 2013. They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics and should be labelled "accredited official statistics".