The suicide rate in the United States saw a slight decrease from 2023 to 2024, according to newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The rate declined from 14.1 deaths per 100,000 people in 2023 to 13.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2024. Despite this modest reduction, the overall suicide rate has remained relatively stable since 2017, maintaining a level around 14 per 100,000.
Experts highlight that the suicide rate remains persistently high. Dr. Maria A. Oquendo, chair of psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, noted that despite fluctuations over the past century, the rate has not shown substantial long-term change. Regional disparities remain significant; for instance, the rate in the District of Columbia measured 5.7 per 100,000, while Alaska recorded 29.7 per 100,000 in 2024.
Suicide rose to become the 10th leading cause of death in the United States in 2024, up from 11th place the year prior. However, this ranking shift is not uniform across all demographic groups. Suicide ranks among the top 10 causes of death primarily for individuals identifying as Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, Hispanic, or white.
Although suicide’s ranking among causes of death increased, the total number of suicides declined by approximately 1 percent—from 49,316 deaths in 2023 to 48,824 in 2024. The reasons for this decrease are not fully understood but may relate to improvements in suicide prevention efforts. Initiatives such as the Zero Suicide model, which aims to enhance suicide care in healthcare settings, along with expanded school-based interventions and the introduction of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, are among the factors thought to contribute.
A study published in April analyzed suicide trends following the 988 hotline's national rollout in 2022, finding an 11 percent reduction in suicides among young people compared to projections. The study also noted sharper declines in states with higher volumes of answered 988 calls. Complementing this, data from 2025 surveys of high school students reported improvements in key mental health indicators, including reductions in persistent sadness, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. Still, 33 percent of surveyed students experienced prolonged feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and 14 percent seriously considered suicide over the past year.
Experts caution that despite progress, suicide prevention requires sustained and intensified efforts. Holly Wilcox, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Suicide Prevention, emphasized the need to continue striving for lasting reductions in suicide rates.
The CDC’s 2024 data revealed some encouraging demographic trends. Suicide rates declined among women aged 25 and older and males aged 15 to 44 between 2023 and 2024. Nonetheless, men remain disproportionately affected, with suicide rates roughly three to four times higher than those for women over the past decade. Firearms remain the most common method for suicide among both genders.
Suicide remains a leading cause of death for younger populations, ranking second for those aged 10 to 24 and 25 to 44 in both 2023 and 2024. Dr. Oquendo noted that this reflects the fact that younger individuals tend to be healthier overall and are less likely to die from other causes such as cancer or heart disease.
The human toll behind the statistics was underscored by Dr. Kevin Simon, a pediatric psychiatrist at Boston Children’s Hospital, who lost his 24-year-old nephew to suicide earlier this year. He reflected on the persistent questions faced by families and clinicians alike about how to prevent such losses. “Each data point, unfortunately, is a person,” he said.
Individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts are encouraged to call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for support. Additional resources are available at SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.