Suicide Rate in the United States – Latest 2025 Insights

Tens of thousands of Americans die by suicide, and the national suicide rate remains among the highest recorded in recent decades.

The faces behind those numbers belong to veterans, teenagers, parents, and neighbors, people whose pain often went unseen.

Experts point to isolation, stress, and barriers to mental health care as some of the main forces behind the crisis.

The latest data show little sign of progress, and that should concern every one of us. In 2024, it is estimated that about 48,800 Americans died by suicide. We are not sure if we can expect a much lower number by the end of this year.

The following sections will provide more insights into the suicide rate in the United States and how it has changed in recent years.

Comparison of Suicide Rates in the US Year by Year(2000 to 2025)

Reviewing the trend from 2000 to 2025 gives us a long view of where the problem has been, where it is, and where it may go.

The numbers below trace a 25-year picture of suicide in America.

* Figures for 2024 and 2025 are estimates based on early national reports. We will update this information once the full research is available. Final verification will come through the National Vital Statistics System once full-year data are confirmed.

The Numbers Keep Going Up

The data leave no room for doubt. Year after year, the suicide rate in the United States has climbed higher.

In 2000, the rate was just over ten deaths for every 100,000 people. By 2025, it stands above fourteen. The rise may look small on paper, but that steady climb represents tens of thousands of lives.

Between 2002 and 2018, the rate jumped by more than thirty percent. There was a short drop around 2019 and 2020, but the decline stopped quickly.

Since then, the numbers have stayed near record levels.

Men remain at the highest risk, and older adults show the steepest rates.

Suicide is still the second leading cause of death among Americans aged 10 to 34.

Experts say the rise comes down to simple, harsh truths: people are broke, alone, and can’t get the help they need when life hits too hard.

Only a few states have managed to lower their rates in recent years.

Suicide Rates by State in the United States

The numbers are quite different when we compare different parts of the United States.

Places such as Alaska, Montana, and Wyoming consistently report the highest numbers, with rates over 25 deaths per 100,000 residents.

At the other end of the spectrum, states like New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts remain among the lowest, often below 10 per 100,000.

Here are the details about all states.

The States Where the Crisis Runs Deep

Some parts of America carry a heavier burden than others.

Numbers from Alaska, Montana, and Wyoming reveal a pattern that feels distant to most, yet painfully close to the people living it.

Each of those states continues to record suicide rates far above the national level, shaped by forces that go far beyond statistics.

Alaska

Alaska holds the highest rate in the nation, 28.2 deaths for every 100,000 people, with about 206 lives lost in a single year.

In a state where winter lasts most of the year and towns are separated by hundreds of miles, reaching help is not simple.

Many areas have no local counselors or clinics. Families face isolation, alcohol abuse, and economic stress that push them to the edge.

Health workers describe a cycle that repeats itself quietly across small communities with too few resources to stop it.

Montana

Montana follows with 26.6 deaths for every 100,000 people, roughly 310 deaths in total.

It is a place known for its open land and tight-knit towns, yet that same openness can turn into isolation.

Most suicides there involve firearms kept in the home. Reports show many people had been dealing with chronic pain or personal loss before their deaths.

Mental health care is hard to find outside the major cities. Volunteers and local leaders have started small prevention efforts, but the gap between knowing the risk and finding real help remains wide.

Wyoming

Wyoming is close behind, with 26.3 deaths for every 100,000 people, about 157 lives lost.

The economy rises and falls with oil, mining, and agriculture, and those changes hit families hard. People there pride themselves on being strong and independent, which makes it even harder to ask for help.

Firearms are common, and most suicides involve one. State programs now teach gun owners about safe storage and crisis signs, but many residents still face their pain alone.

Other States with Alarming Suicide Rates

Beyond Alaska, Montana, and Wyoming, several other states face the same crisis in silence. Places like Idaho, New Mexico, and Oklahoma show patterns that are impossible to ignore.

Each of them records suicide rates above 20 deaths per 100,000 people, well above the national level.

Idaho reports a rate of 23.3 deaths per 100,000, with about 460 deaths. Rural counties see the highest numbers, where poverty and lack of services leave many people alone with their pain.

New Mexico follows with 22.8 deaths per 100,000, roughly 489 deaths in total. Experts in Albuquerque and Santa Fe link much of the problem to substance abuse, poverty, and gaps in behavioral health treatment. Indigenous and rural communities carry a large share of the loss, with cultural and economic barriers making it harder to reach consistent care.

Oklahoma stands at 21.8 deaths per 100,000, with an estimated 893 deaths. Mental health providers in the state describe a shortage of trained professionals and long waiting lists for therapy. Firearms are involved in most suicides, and many victims had shown warning signs that went unnoticed.

The story repeats in Utah and Colorado, where rates also remain above 20 per 100,000.

What About the Highly Populated States?

Large populations hide how serious the problem really is. The suicide rate might look lower on paper, but the number of people dying is still staggering.

California loses about 4,200 people each year. The rate sits at 10.2 per 100,000, which sounds low until you realize it adds up to thousands of lives gone.

Big cities have mental health programs, but rural counties fall behind, leaving long waits for anyone seeking help.

Texas reports around 4,382 deaths and a rate of 14.2. The size of this state alone makes access to care difficult.

People living hours from the nearest therapist often face stress, debt, or health problems alone.

Florida records about 3,620 deaths at a rate of 14.4. Many deaths happen outside the major cities, in areas with fewer doctors and weak local support systems.

New York counts about 1,717 deaths, with a rate of 8.3.

Numbers are lowest in New York City but much higher in upstate counties, where hospitals and counselors are spread thin.

The data tell a hard truth. Suicide remains a national crisis that no state escapes.

Now, let’s see what the situation is around the world, and if other countries are facing the same challenges.

Global Suicide Rates by Country

Suicide is a public health issue in every part of the world, but the scale of loss varies sharply between nations.

The World Health Organization collects official data for all recognized member states, and other demographic studies fill in gaps for regions that report separately, such as Greenland.

The global suicide rate is 9.2 deaths per 100,000 people.

Yet some places record rates far beyond that. Lesotho reports nearly 29 deaths per 100,000, South Korea follows with 27.5, and Lithuania sits at 22.1.

Here Are the Leading Countries

Source: World Population Review, Suicide Rate by Country

Few nations face suicide levels far beyond the global average. Greenland stands at the top with 75.6 deaths for every 100,000 residents. Life in the Arctic carries isolation that few outsiders can imagine.

Months of darkness, long distances between towns, and limited access to care create a quiet kind of despair. Young men account for most deaths, and the pattern has held steady for years.

In South Korea, the crisis takes a different form. The rate sits at 28.1 per 100,000 people, driven by unrelenting pressure from work, family, and social status.

Suicide has become one of the nation’s leading causes of death. The cost of failure feels heavier there than in most other places.

Suriname and Guyana follow close behind, both between 25 and 28 per 100,000. Economic instability, social stress, and weak support systems define the struggle.

Lithuania remains high at 24.8, where addiction and social disconnection keep the rate among the worst in Europe.

Highest Suicide Rates by Profession in the United States

Some jobs demand more than the body can give. They take a quiet toll on the mind, often leaving workers alone with the kind of stress that builds slowly until it breaks.

National data from the CDC show that suicide is not spread evenly across professions. Certain lines of work carry far higher risks, shaped by pressure, isolation, and access to lethal means.

At the top of the list are those who work in mining. The suicide rate among male miners stands at around 72 deaths per 100,000 people, the highest recorded across all industries.

Here Is the Full List of Jobs With The Highest Suicide Rates

1. Mining
2. Construction & extraction
3. Farming, fishing & forestry
4. Installation, maintenance & repair
5. Arts, design, entertainment, sports & media
6. Transportation & material moving
7. Personal care & service
8. Other services (for example, automotive repair)
9. Accommodation & food services
10. Production

Professions with the Lowest Suicide Rates

Some jobs show the lowest numbers when it comes to suicide rates.

• Education and training
• Management and administration
• Community and social services
• Office and administrative support
• Sales and retail
• Legal professions
• Protective services such as firefighting and security
• Healthcare support roles (excluding emergency response)

People in these fields tend to work in environments where teamwork, communication, and mental health awareness programs are common.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

The numbers tell a painful truth. Suicide remains one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States and across the world.

Behind every statistic is a person who needed help, often too late to receive it.