U.S. Suicide Rates by Race, Ethnicity and Age, 2018–2023

Suicide — death from injuring oneself with the intent to die — ranks among the top eight causes of death for people aged 10–64 in the United States. From 2003 to 2023, the age-adjusted suicide rate rose 31%, reaching 14.2 per 100,000 in 2018, the highest since 1941. It then fell to 13.9 (2019) and 13.5 (2020), rose to 14.1 in 2021, and stayed about the same in 2022 (14.2) and 2023 (14.1). CDC used national death records to see how rates changed by race and ethnicity and age.

Suicide rates rose among Black and Hispanic people and were highest among American Indian or Alaska Native people, 2018–2023. CDC.

By race and ethnicity, 2023

Changes, 2018–2023: rates rose among Black (25.2%) and Hispanic (10.0%) people and fell among White people (3.1%). From 2021 to 2023, the rate among AI/AN people fell 15.3% — though it remained the highest. Changes among Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander people weren't significant because of small numbers.

By age

2018–2023

• Rates fell among ages 10–24 (7.0%) and 45–64 (6.7%), and rose among ages 25–44 (5.7%).
• They rose among Black people aged 10–24 (29.4%), 25–44 (29.2%) and 45–64 (17.4%); Hispanic people aged 25–44 (25.2%); and White people 65 and older (3.6%).
• They fell among Asian people aged 45–64 (14.1%) and White people aged 10–24 (14.8%) and 45–64 (4.6%).

2021–2023

• Among ages 10–24, rates fell overall (10.2%) and among White (11.9%) and AI/AN (30.3%) young people. They also fell among AI/AN people aged 25–44 (14.5%).
• Among ages 45–64, rates rose overall (6.9%) and among Black (20.3%) and White (7.7%) people.

What it means

• Rising rates among Black people are especially concerning, continuing increases seen from 2018 to 2021.
• The drop among young people stands out, since an earlier analysis found a 62.0% rise in this age group from 2007 to 2021.
• AI/AN rates declined after earlier increases but are still the highest.

There is no single cause of suicide; rates likely reflect individual, relationship, community and societal factors that affect groups differently. The National Strategy for Suicide Prevention calls for a whole-of-society approach. CDC's Comprehensive Suicide Prevention program and Suicide Prevention Resource for Action focus on groups at higher risk, combining community approaches — such as economic supports and connectedness — with health care strategies.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Sources

Based on Stone DM, Cammack AL, Carbone EG, "Notes from the Field: Differences in Suicide Rates, by Race and Ethnicity and Age Group — United States, 2018–2023," Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain. The imported copy was cut off in one place; the missing text was taken from the same report's full text in PubMed Central (PMC12445878).