Suicide Deaths in Northern Ireland, 2002-2022

The suicide deaths in Northern Ireland, 2002-2022 report was published this morning at 9.30am.

• There were 203 suicide deaths registered in 2022. While this represents a decrease of 34 (14.3 per cent) from the 237 suicide deaths registered in 2021, it is important to remember that annual fluctuations in registration-based figures build in procedural delays. The three-year rolling average of suicide deaths has remained relatively stable since 2017.
• The age-standardised suicide rate in Northern Ireland reduced from 14.3 deaths per 100,000 in 2021 to 12.3 deaths per 100,000 in 2022.
• 156 (76.8 per cent) of the 203 total suicide deaths in 2022 were males and 47 (23.2 per cent) were females. The rate for males decreased from 21.6 per 100,000 males in 2021 to 19.2 in 2022, while for females, the equivalent rate decreased from 7.2 per 100,000 females in 2021 to 5.7 in 2022.
• The crude death rate per 100,000 population was higher for those suicide deaths in 2022 with a marital status of divorced (20.8) or single (17.7), compared to those recorded as widowed (11.4) or married (9.5).
• The percentage of suicides in 2022 from Northern Ireland’s most deprived areas (31.0 per cent) was over three times that of the least deprived areas (9.4 per cent).
• Belfast Trust had the highest number of suicides in 2022 (51), followed by Southern Trust (43). The South Eastern Trust had the lowest number of suicides in 2022 with 34.

Further statistics on Suicide deaths can be found at Suicide deaths.

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