Spain's suicide deaths hit historic low as drownings rise to second leading cause

In 2025 the province of León recorded 29 suicides, the fewest since 1980, according to data from Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE). The figure continued a downward trend from 48 deaths in 1994 to 33 the previous year.

Nationwide, suicides fell 3.7% to 3,808 deaths, dropping to the third most common external cause of death. Drownings (3,899 deaths) overtook suicides to become the second leading external cause, while accidental falls remained the top cause with 4,814 deaths. Suicides still accounted for the majority of non‑natural deaths among men (2,784) but were surpassed by falls among women. Overall external deaths rose by 3.8% to 19,042.

These figures suggest that suicide prevention efforts may be bearing fruit in certain regions, even as other external causes, such as drownings and falls, increase.