Provisional Estimates of Suicide by Demographic Characteristics: United States, 2022
By Sally C. Curtin, M.A., Matthew F. Garnett, M.P.H., and Farida B. Ahmad, M.P.H.
Published November 2023
Abstract
Objectives – This report presents the provisional number of deaths due to suicide in 2022 by demographic characteristics (age, sex, and race and Hispanic origin) compared with final 2021 data.
Methods — Data are based on more than 99% of all 2022 death records received and processed by the National Center for Health Statistics as of August 6, 2023. Comparisons are made with final 2021 data. Deaths due to suicide were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision underlying cause-of-death codes U03, X60–X84, and Y87.0. Provisional 2022 age-adjusted and age-specific suicide rates are presented by sex and compared with final 2021 rates. Age-adjusted suicide rates by race and Hispanic origin for 2022 are also presented and compared with final 2021 rates.
Results — The provisional number of suicides in 2022 (49,449) was 3% higher than in 2021 (48,183). The provisional age-adjusted suicide rate was 1% higher in 2022 (14.3 deaths per 100,000 standard population) than in 2021 (14.1). The age-adjusted suicide rate was 1% higher in 2022 than 2021 for males (23.1 compared with 22.8) and 4% higher for females (5.9 compared with 5.7). Suicide rates generally declined for males ages 34 and younger and increased for those 35 and older. For females, rates declined for those ages 24 and younger and increased for those 25 and older. Suicide rates increased for nearly all race and Hispanic-origin groups, although only the 3% increase for White non-Hispanic females was statistically significant.
Keywords: cause of death • intentional self-harm • self-injury • mental health • National Vital Statistics System
Introduction
Suicide has risen almost steadily during the 21st century, with increases experienced for both males and females in nearly every age and race and Hispanic-origin group (1,2). In 2021, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a call to action on a national strategy for suicide prevention (3) as well as an advisory for youth mental health (4) in response to the steady rise in suicides. This report presents the provisional number and rate of suicides for 2022 and compares them with final 2021 data, in total, by sex, and by sex and age combined. Numbers and age-adjusted rates for five race and Hispanic-origin groups (Hispanic, and for non-Hispanic groups: American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Black, and White) are also presented for 2022 and compared with final data for 2021.
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