Germany reports fourth consecutive year of rising suicide rates

Suicide rates in Germany have increased for the fourth consecutive year. According to recent statistics, 11,334 people died by suicide in 2025, representing a 9.3 percent increase—or 964 additional cases—compared to the previous year.

Demographic data indicates that men in their 60s, part of the baby boomer generation, have the highest number of suicides. While men account for 69.2 percent of all cases, the most significant recent growth in rates has been observed among women. The risk appears to increase with age, peaking among those over 50, specifically in the 55–65 age bracket, before rising again among those in their 80s and 90s.

The National Suicide Prevention Program estimates that more than 100,000 people attempt suicide annually, which translates to approximately 500 individuals per day. Although the numbers are rising, suicides still account for roughly 1.1 percent of all deaths in the country, a proportion similar to previous years. This upward trend marks a reversal of a nearly 40-year decline that had seen rates drop from a 1981 peak of 18,825 to 9,215 in 2021.