European Union suicide rates show slight decline in 2023

New Eurostat data released for World Suicide Prevention Day shows a slight decline in suicide rates across the European Union. In 2023, 48,370 people died by suicide in the EU, representing 1% of all deaths. The standardized death rate was 10.4 per 100,000 people, down from 10.6 in 2022 and 12.2 in 2013.

Regional disparities remain significant. Lithuania recorded the highest rate at 18.8 per 100,000, while Cyprus reported the lowest at 3.5. Malta recorded the third-lowest rate but also the highest proportion of male deaths in the EU, with men accounting for 90.3% of suicides. Across the EU, men represent 76.4% of all suicide deaths.

In Spain, suicide deaths have decreased for three consecutive years, falling by approximately 10% over the last three years. Spain is currently developing its first National Action Plan for suicide prevention for 2025-2027. Similarly, Ireland has seen a 33.3% reduction in suicide rates between 2000 and 2022 and has introduced a new strategy, 'Connecting for Life 2026-2035', aiming to reduce the rate to seven per 100,000 by 2035.