Germany reports highest suicide rate since 1998

Data from the National Suicide Prevention Program (NaSPro) and the Federal Statistical Office indicate a significant rise in suicides in Germany. In 2025, there were 11,334 recorded suicides, representing a 9.3 percent increase from the previous year and the highest level since 1998.

The upward trend began in 2020, with a cumulative increase of 23 percent since that year. NaSPro attributes part of this rise to a 2020 Federal Constitutional Court decision that legalized the professional promotion of assisted suicide. Other contributing factors suggested include the social isolation resulting from COVID-19 pandemic measures.

Demographic shifts are notable: while men still account for 69.2 percent of suicides, the gap is narrowing. Suicides among women have increased by 17.9 percent, compared to 5.8 percent for men. Since 2020, the rate for women has risen by 54 percent, largely driven by deaths involving medication. Additionally, the Christian Democrats for Life (CDL) highlighted a sharp increase among older populations, noting that suicides in the 65 and older age group rose by 558 cases between 2024 and 2025.