Suicide in Canada: Key statistics (infographic)

Suicide in Canada infographic

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Deaths and hospitalizations

  • Approximately 12 people die by suicide each day
  • Approximately 4,500 deaths by suicide per year
  • Suicide rates are approximately 3 times higher among men compared to women
  • Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth and young adults (15-34 years)
Figure 1. Death rates by suicide per 100,000 population in 2019 (by age and sex)Footnote 1
Figure 1
Figure 1. Text description
Figure 1. Death rates by suicide per 100,000 population in 2019 (by age and sex)Footnote 1
Age 10-19 20-34 35-49 50-64 65-79 80+
Females 4.9 6.8 6.8 8.4 4.5 3.5
Males 7.4 21.4 23.4 25.9 18.0 22.9
Figure 2. Hospitalization rates associated with self-inflicted injury per 100,000 population in 2020-2021 (by age and sex)Footnote 2
Figure 2
Figure 2. Text description
Figure 2. Hospitalization rates associated with self-inflicted injury per 100,000 population in 2020-2021 (by age and sex)Footnote 2
Age 10-19 20-34 35-49 50-64 65-79 80+
Females 187 102 60 44 24 20
Males 43 61 46 39 23 30

Behaviours related to suicideFootnote 3, Footnote 4

Thoughts

  • 12% had thoughts of suicide in their lifetime
  • 2.6% had thoughts of suicide in the past year

Plans

  • 4.2% had planned suicide in their lifetime
  • 0.8% had planned suicide in the past year

Attempts

  • 3.1% had attempted suicide in their lifetime
  • 0.3% had attempted suicide in the past year

Published data may underestimate the total number of reported deaths, attempts, plans, and thoughts of suicide due to stigma and other factors.

Help is available

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 9-1-1.

Help is available 24/7 for suicide prevention and mental health. Here are some resources:

Like us: @HealthyCdns
Follow us: @GovCanHealth

Footnotes

Footnote 1

Statistics Canada. Canadian Vital Statistics - Death Database. 2017-2019. Released in January, 2022.

Return to footnote 1 referrer

Footnote 2

Canadian Institute of Health Information (CIHI). Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), National Ambulatory Care Reporting System metadata (NACRS) and Ontario Mental Health Reporting System (OMHRS). Fiscal year 2020-2021.

Return to footnote 2 referrer

Footnote 3

Estimates are for the population in Canada aged 15 years and older.

Return to footnote 3 referrer

Footnote 4

Statistics Canada. Canadian Community Health Survey - Annual component. 2020.

Return to footnote 4 referrer

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