In 2022, 5 017 young people aged 15-29 years died in the EU as a result of intentional self-harm. Compared with 2011, it indicates a decrease of 20% (- 1 248 deaths). Data show that in this age group of 15-29 years, more than 1 in 6 deaths were registered as intentional self-harm, while for the total population, the weight of self-harm among other causes of death was 1 in 100. For young people, it was the second most prominent cause of death, following accidents.

According to available data by age, people in their twenties were more likely to die from intentional self-harm than their younger peers. The highest crude rate of deaths by suicide in young people in the EU was registered among people 25-29 years old, with a crude death rate of 8.3 deaths per 100 000 people, and 7.7 amongst those aged 20 to 24 years. Among people 15-19 years old, the crude death rate was 4.4. 

Crude death rates from intentional self-harm among young people in the EU, 2011 and 2022 (number of deaths per 100 000 people; by age group). Bar chart. Link to full dataset below.

Source dataset:hlth_cd_acdr2 

Since 2011, there has been a decrease in crude death rates associated with intentional self-harm. In the age group 25-29 years, the rate decreased by 1.2 percentage points (pp), from 9.5 in 2011, while in the 20-24 group it went down by 1.1 pp from 8.8. In the 15 to 19 years group, the variation is smaller, down 0.4 pp from 4.8.

The crude death rate associated with intentional self-harm is higher for the total population than for young people – even if the weight of this cause among other causes of death shrinks considerably.

This news item marks World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September. 

Deaths by suicide in the EU see yearly increase in 2022

In 2022, there were 49 042 deaths of residents of all ages due to suicide in the EU, equivalent to standardised death rate of 10.6 deaths per 100 000 people. 

Compared with 2021, the number of deaths in the entire population by intentional self-harm increased by 1 696, which was a standardised death rate of 10.24 deaths per 100 000 people. However, compared with 2011, the first year for which there is data, the number of deaths by self-harm decreased by 10% (-5 581 deaths). In 2011, the standardised death rate for suicides in the EU was 12.4 deaths per 100 000 people.

Among EU countries, Slovenia registered the highest standardised death rate of suicide in 2022 with 18.3 deaths per 100 000 inhabitants, followed by Lithuania (18.2) and Hungary (16.7). At the opposite end of the scale, Cyprus recorded the lowest standardised death rates for suicide (4.1 deaths per 100 000 inhabitants), ahead of Greece (4.6) and Malta (5.2).
 

Source dataset: hlth_cd_asdr2