This is part of Science's special series on unraveling suicide.
Suicide is a worldwide problem, but its effects are uneven. Although suicide rates—all rates noted here are annual deaths per 100,000 people—are rising in some countries, including the United States, most countries are seeing declines, for reasons that include restrictions on access to lethal means and improved mental health care. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), most countries do not collect detailed data on suicide; data for many countries here were drawn from rates estimated by organizations such as WHO and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation's Global Burden of Disease project.
A changing map
Suicide rates have fallen in countries shaded green and blue, with drops of up to nearly 48 deaths per 100,000 people since 1990. In other countries, colored yellow and red, the rate has jumped by as much as 10 deaths per 100,000. The 2017 rate is specified on some countries.
Around the world, 2017
Suicide rates in 2017, the most recent year for which data are available, range considerably. Greenland has the highest rate in the world but is also seeing the most rapid improvement. To see rates for each country, hover over or click on the map. Data here come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s Global Burden of Disease project.CREDITS: (GRAPHICS) N. DESAI/SCIENCE; (DATA) GLOBAL BURDEN OF DISEASE COLLABORATIVE NETWORK, GLOBAL BURDEN OF DISEASE STUDY, 2017; WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION GLOBAL HEALTH OBSERVATORY, 2016; THE BRADY CAMPAIGN STATE SCORECARD, 2015; CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION WONDER
