U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 241 ■ April 2016

Increase in Suicide in the United States, 1999–2014

Sally C. Curtin, M.A., Margaret Warner, Ph.D., and Holly Hedegaard, M.D., M.S.P.H. 

Key findings

Data from the National 

Vital Statistics System

● From 1999 through 2014, the 

age-adjusted suicide rate in the 

United States increased 24%, 

from 10.5 to 13.0 per 100,000 

population, with the pace of 

increase greater after 2006.

● Suicide rates increased from 

1999 through 2014 for both 

males and females and for all 

ages 10–74.

● The percent increase in 

suicide rates for females was 

greatest for those aged 10–14, 

and for males, those aged 

45–64. 

● The most frequent suicide 

method in 2014 for males 

involved the use of firearms 

(55.4%), while poisoning was 

the most frequent method for 

females (34.1%).

● Percentages of suicides 

attributable to suffocation 

increased for both sexes 

between 1999 and 2014.

Suicide is an important public health issue involving psychological, biological, 

and societal factors (1,2). After a period of nearly consistent decline in suicide 

rates in the United States from 1986 through 1999 (3), suicide rates have 

increased almost steadily from 1999 through 2014. While suicide among 

adolescents and young adults is increasing and among the leading causes of 

death for those demographic groups (4), suicide among middle-aged adults 

is also rising (5). This report presents an overview of suicide mortality in the 

United States from 1999 through 2014. Suicide rates in 1999 are compared 

with 2014 for both females and males across age groups, and percentages are 

compared by method (firearms, poisoning, suffocation, and other means).

Keywords: death certificates • underlying cause of death • intentional selfharm • National Vital Statistics System

Suicide rates increased from 1999 through 2014, with greater 

annual percent increases after 2006.

● The age-adjusted suicide rate in 2014, 13.0 per 100,000 population, was 

 

Figure 1. Age-adjusted suicide rates, by sex: United States, 1999–2014

NOTES: Suicide deaths are identified with codes U03, X60–X84, and Y87.0 from the International Statistical Classification of 

Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision. Access data for Figure 1 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db241_table.pdf#1.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Vital Statistics System, Mortality. 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 241 ■ April 2016

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24% higher than the rate in 1999 (10.5) (Figure 1).

● The average annual percent increase in the age-adjusted suicide rate was about 1% per year 

from 1999 through 2006 but increased to 2% per year from 2006 through 2014.

● In 2014, the age-adjusted rate for males (20.7) was more than three times that for females 

(5.8).

● From 1999 through 2014, the percent increase in the age-adjusted suicide rate was greater 

for females (45% increase) than males (16% increase), resulting in a narrowing of the 

gender gap in suicide rates (as measured by rate ratios). The ratio of male to female suicide 

rates was lower in 2014 (3.6) than in 1999 (4.5).

Suicide rates for females were higher in 2014 than in 1999 for all age 

groups under 75 years.

● Suicide rates for females were highest for those aged 45–64 in both 1999 (6.0 per 100,000) 

and 2014 (9.8) (Figure 2). This age group also had the second-largest percent increase 

(63%) since 1999. 

 

Figure 2. Suicide rates for females, by age: United States, 1999 and 2014

1

Significantly higher than rates for all other age groups (p < 0.05). 

NOTES: For all age groups, the difference in rates between 1999 and 2014 is significant (p < 0.05). Suicides are identified with codes U03, X60–X84, and Y87.0 

from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision. Access data for Figure 2 at: 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db241_table.pdf#2.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Vital Statistics System, Mortality. 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 241 ■ April 2016

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● Although based on a small number of suicides compared with other age groups (150 in 

2014), the suicide rate for females aged 10–14 had the largest percent increase (200%) 

during the time period, tripling from 0.5 per 100,000 in 1999 to 1.5 in 2014.

● Percent increases in suicide rates since 1999 for females aged 15–24, 25–44, and 65–74 

ranged between 31% and 53%.

● In contrast to other age groups, the suicide rate for women aged 75 and over decreased by 

11% from 1999 through 2014, declining from 4.5 to 4.0 per 100,000.

Suicide rates for males were higher in 2014 than in 1999 for all age groups 

under 75 years.

● In both 1999 and 2014, suicide rates were highest among men aged 75 and over (Figure 3). 

In contrast to other age groups, the suicide rate for this demographic group decreased by 

8%, from 42.4 per 100,000 in 1999 to 38.8 in 2014.

● Men aged 45–64 had the second-highest suicide rate for males in 2014 and the largest 

percent increase (43%) in rates, increasing from 20.8 in 1999 to 29.7 in 2014.

 

Figure 3. Suicide rates for males, by age: United States, 1999 and 2014

1

Significantly lower than rates for all other age groups (p < 0.05). 2

Significantly higher than rates for all other age groups except 75 and over (p < 0.05). 3

Significantly higher than rates for all other age groups (p < 0.05). 

NOTES: For all age groups, the difference in rates between 1999 and 2014 is significant (p < 0.05). Suicides are identified with codes U03, X60–X84, and Y87.0 

from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision. Access data for Figure 3 at: 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db241_table.pdf#3.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Vital Statistics System, Mortality. 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 241 ■ April 2016

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● While males aged 10–14 had the lowest suicide rate of all age groups, this group 

experienced the second-largest percent increase (37%) from 1999 through 2014 (from 1.9 to 

2.6).

Percentages of suicides involving firearms and poisoning declined from 

1999 through 2014, while suicides involving suffocation increased.

● For both females and males, about one in four suicides in 2014 were attributable to 

suffocation (includes hanging, strangulation, and suffocation), an increase from 1999, when 

fewer than one in five were by this method (Figure 4).

● The percentages of suicides attributable to firearms and poisoning were lower in 2014 than 

in 1999 for both females and males.

● Poisoning was the most common method of suicide for females in 2014, accounting for 

about one-third (34.1%) of all female suicides. This was a change from 1999, when firearms 

were the most common suicide method for women (36.9%), slightly more likely than 

poisoning (36.0%).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 4. Suicide deaths, by method and sex: United States, 1999 and 2014

NOTES: Except for Male-Other, all differences in percentages between 1999 and 2014 were significant at the 0.05 level. Suicide deaths are those with 

International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD–10) underlying cause-of-death codes U03, X60–84, and 

Y87.0. Suicide methods are identified with codes X72–X74 for firearm, X60–X69 for poisoning, and X70 for suffocation. “Other” includes: Cut/Pierce; Drowning; 

Falls; Fire/Flame; Other land transport; Struck by or against; Other specified, classifiable Injury; Other specified, not elsewhere classified Injury; and Unspecified 

Injury, as classified by ICD–10. Access data for Figure 4 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db241_table.pdf#4.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Vital Statistics System, Mortality. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 241 ■ April 2016

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● More than one-half of male suicides (55.4%) in 2014 were firearm-related, although the

percentage of suicides by this method was lower than in 1999 (61.7%).

● The most frequent “other” suicide methods in 2014 (not shown separately) for females were

falls (2.8%) and drowning (1.4%). For males, the most frequent “other” methods were falls

(2.2%) and cutting or piercing (1.9%).

Summary

Suicide is increasing against the backdrop of generally declining mortality, and is currently 

one of the 10 leading causes of death overall and within each age group 10–64 (4). This report 

highlights increases in suicide mortality from 1999 through 2014 and shows that while the rate 

increased almost steadily over the period, the average annual percent increase was greater for the 

second half of this period (2006–2014) than for the first half (1999–2006). Increases in suicide 

rates occurred for both males and females in all but the oldest age group (75 and over). Percent 

increases in rates were greatest for females aged 10–14 and for males, those aged 45–64. The 

male-female disparity in suicide rates (as measured by rate ratios) narrowed slightly over the 

period. Poisoning was the most common suicide method for females in 2014, and firearms were 

the most frequent for males, but both sexes showed increases since 1999 in the percentage of 

suicides attributable to suffocation. Suicide numbers and rates for females and males by Hispanic 

origin and race for 1999 and 2014 are also available (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/

suicide/rates_1999_2014.htm).

Data sources and methods

Mortality and population data are from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC)

National Center for Health Statistics 1999–2014 multiple cause-of-death mortality files (6). 

Suicide deaths are those classified with the International Statistical Classification of Diseases 

and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD–10) underlying cause-of-death codes U03, 

X60–X84, and Y87.0 (7). Suicide deaths are categorized by method of injury using the following 

ICD–10 codes: firearm (X72–X74), suffocation (X70), poisoning (X60–X69), and other methods 

(U03, X71, X75–X84, and Y87.0).

Age-adjusted death rates were calculated using the direct method and the 2000 standard 

population (8). Demographic information comes from death certificates. Population data for 2000 

and 2010 are April 1 bridged-race census counts, and for 1999, 2001–2009, and 2011–2014 are 

July 1 bridged-race estimates from the vintage 2014 postcensal series. Trends in age-adjusted 

death rates were evaluated using the Joinpoint Regression Program (9). Suicide rates by age 

group were analyzed by comparing 1999 and 2014 only; trends during this time period were not 

analyzed and may have varied by subgroup. The small number of suicides during 1999–2014 for 

persons aged 5–9 years (79) were included in the total age-adjusted rates and in the percentages 

by method. Male-female differences in suicide rates were based on rate ratios calculated as male 

age-adjusted rate divided by female age-adjusted rate.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 241 ■ April 2016

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About the authors

Sally C. Curtin and Margaret Warner are with CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics 

(NCHS), Division of Vital Statistics. Holly Hedegaard is with NCHS’ Office of Analysis and 

Epidemiology.

References

1. CDC. Preventing suicide. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/PreventingSuicide/

index.html. 

2. U.S. Surgeon General, National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. 2012 National 

strategy for suicide prevention: Goals and objectives for action. 2012.

3. Hu G, Wilcox HC, Wissow L, Baker SP. Mid-life suicide: an increasing problem in U.S. 

whites, 1999–2005. Am J Prev Med 37(6):579. 2009. 

4. Heron M. Deaths: Leading causes for 2013. National vital statistics reports; vol 65 no 2. 

Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2016. 

5. Hempstead KA, Phillips JA. Rising suicide among adults aged 40–64 years: The role of job 

and financial circumstances. Am J Prev Med 48(5):491–500. 2015.

6. National Center for Health Statistics. About underlying cause of death, 1999–2014. CDC 

WONDER online database. 2016. Available from: http://wonder.cdc.gov/ucd-icd10.html.

7. WHO. International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems, tenth 

revision (ICD–10). 2008 ed. Geneva, Switzerland. 2009. 

8. Xu JQ, Murphy SL, Kochanek KD, Bastian BA. Deaths: Final data for 2013. National vital 

statistics reports; vol 64 no 2. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2016.

9. National Cancer Institute. Joinpoint Regression Program (Version 3.4.3.) [computer 

software]. 2010.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 241 ■ April 2016

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NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 241 ■ April 2016

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Suggested citation

Curtin SC, Warner M, Hedegaard H. Increase in suicide in the United States, 1999–2014. 

NCHS data brief, no 241. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2016.

Copyright information

All material appearing in this report is in 

the public domain and may be reproduced 

or copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health 

Statistics

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., M.B.A., Director

Nathaniel Schenker, Ph.D., Deputy Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Vital Statistics

Delton Atkinson, M.P.H., M.P.H., P.M.P., 

Director

Hanyu Ni, Ph.D., M.P.H., Associate Director 

for Science

Office of Analysis and Epidemiology

Irma E. Arispe, Ph.D., Director

Makram Talih, Ph.D., Associate Director for 

Science

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