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Highest suicide rates, 2000 to 2021

Lesotho had the highest suicide mortality rate in 2021 at 28.7 deaths per 100,000 people, just ahead of South Korea at 27.5 and Eswatini at 27.2.

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What the data shows

  • In 2021, Lesotho ranks #1 with 28.7, ahead of South Korea (27.5) and Eswatini (27.2).
  • Back in 2000, Russia was #1 with 53.1.
  • The top spot changed hands 3 times: Lithuania in 2009, Eswatini in 2018 and Lesotho in 2019.
  • Biggest climber: Lesotho, from #17 in 2000 to #1 in 2021.
  • Lesotho grew 2.3× between 2000 and 2021.

About this chart

In 2021 the highest suicide mortality rate in the data was Lesotho's, at 28.7 deaths per 100,000 people. South Korea follows at 27.5, Eswatini at 27.2, Uruguay at 24.8 and South Africa at 22.3. The 2000 picture was quite different: Russia stood at 53.1 per 100,000, Lithuania at 50.4, Belarus at 39.5, Sri Lanka at 38.9 and Ukraine at 36.1. Russia (21.4) and Lithuania (22.1) remain in the top ten in 2021 but at far lower rates.

The indicator is the suicide mortality rate per 100,000 people, compiled by the World Health Organization and republished by the World Bank. It covers countries with more than 1 million people and runs from 2000 to 2021. Figures depend on how deaths are recorded and classified, which differs between countries, so they are best read as estimates. If you or someone you know is struggling, a local crisis line or health service can help.

The data

Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (SH.STA.SUIC.P5), suicide mortality rate per 100,000 people (WHO); countries over 1 million people. Retrieved November 4, 2026.

Highest suicide rates, Deaths per 100,000 people, 2000–2021
Date🇱🇸 Lesotho🇰🇷 South Korea🇸🇿 Eswatini🇺🇾 Uruguay🇿🇦 South Africa🇱🇹 Lithuania🇷🇺 Russia🇺🇦 Ukraine🇸🇮 Slovenia🇲🇳 Mongolia🇧🇪 Belgium🇯🇵 Japan🇭🇺 Hungary🇧🇾 Belarus🇱🇻 Latvia🇪🇪 Estonia🇱🇰 Sri Lanka🇰🇿 Kazakhstan
200012.715.112.516.413.150.453.136.131.916.222.124.133.339.534.829.338.933.4
200111.416.113.914.713.247.451.833.330.616.222.223.429.739.332.330.233.833.8
200212.619.615.420.214.647.650.732.529.115.821.024.128.540.331.628.229.933.1
200314.824.916.415.915.845.749.431.329.617.121.425.828.040.329.426.628.234.8
200415.526.217.015.516.143.847.429.828.617.720.324.327.540.427.025.625.237.2
200517.227.617.415.015.643.245.230.726.918.220.724.626.440.526.722.525.436.0
200619.024.418.015.716.135.441.428.728.218.120.324.124.937.523.220.924.134.8
200721.427.618.717.616.034.539.629.123.018.118.725.224.934.020.921.622.034.8
200816.429.319.515.216.838.238.428.420.518.520.224.625.336.326.519.621.232.2
200915.835.119.115.116.439.336.826.022.219.020.625.125.336.426.422.119.028.8
201026.034.927.816.118.837.535.824.820.619.920.524.325.634.222.718.317.328.1
201127.335.519.316.917.338.334.623.921.722.221.223.525.234.522.817.618.126.6
201221.731.020.417.918.235.133.624.321.821.220.921.825.028.523.619.417.125.3
201324.131.221.516.018.740.832.824.122.219.419.621.522.325.520.818.116.024.6
201428.029.422.817.620.135.532.625.519.518.319.420.220.623.620.919.215.022.4
201527.928.224.418.720.734.531.122.421.018.618.619.320.021.921.715.714.821.6
201626.727.125.821.319.632.330.221.318.818.519.217.718.820.921.015.115.119.9
201726.125.628.921.018.229.527.321.820.417.918.417.217.418.921.017.915.218.9
201827.928.329.923.219.127.425.923.517.417.118.616.917.818.718.115.815.518.6
201928.828.428.123.420.126.324.523.319.317.318.116.516.617.517.215.615.918.8
202033.427.223.822.821.124.521.022.117.718.816.917.218.216.318.017.512.417.0
202128.727.527.224.822.322.121.421.218.918.518.417.416.415.615.214.914.714.6

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Frequently asked questions

Which country has the highest suicide rate?

Lesotho had the highest suicide mortality rate in the latest data, at 28.7 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. South Korea was second at 27.5 and Eswatini third at 27.2.

How has the highest suicide rate changed since 2000?

The highest rates have fallen. In 2000 Russia led at 53.1 per 100,000 and Lithuania was at 50.4. By 2021 the top rate was 28.7, and Russia stood at 21.4.

How is the suicide mortality rate measured?

It is the number of deaths from suicide per 100,000 people in a year, based on World Health Organization data republished by the World Bank. Registration quality varies, so cross-country comparisons carry some uncertainty.

Where does this data come from?

World Bank, World Development Indicators (SH.STA.SUIC.P5), suicide mortality rate per 100,000 people (WHO); countries over 1 million people. Retrieved November 4, 2026. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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