The number of people who died by suicide in the European Union fell slightly in 2023, with the overall mortality rate continuing a longer-term decline, according to the latest figures from Eurostat.
A total of 48,370 people died by suicide across the EU in 2023, accounting for around 1% of all deaths recorded that year. The standardised suicide mortality rate stood at 10.4 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, down from 10.6 in 2022 and 12.2 in 2013.
The figures were published ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, an annual event focused on raising awareness, reducing stigma and supporting suicide prevention efforts.
Significant differences remain between EU member states. Lithuania recorded the highest suicide mortality rate in 2023 at 18.8 deaths per 100,000 people, followed by Slovenia at 16.4 and Hungary at 16.1.
The lowest rates were reported in Cyprus at 3.5 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, Greece at 4.3 and Malta at 5.5.
Men accounted for 76.4% of suicide deaths across the EU. The crude suicide rate among men was 16.9 deaths per 100,000, compared with 5 deaths per 100,000 among women.
Suicide mortality also increased with age, reaching 17.3 deaths per 100,000 people among those aged 65 and over.
In Spain, provisional figures from the National Statistics Institute show that suicide deaths fell for a third consecutive year in 2025. A total of 3,808 people died by suicide during the year, down 3.7% from 3,953 deaths in 2024.
The figure has declined from 4,227 deaths recorded in 2022. Suicide was the third leading external cause of death in Spain in 2025, while among men it remained the leading external cause, with 2,784 deaths.
Spain’s Action Plan for Suicide Prevention 2025-2027 focuses on improving data, tackling stigma and myths, strengthening early detection and healthcare services, and improving cooperation between sectors.
The World Health Organization has made “Changing the Narrative on Suicide” the theme of its 2026 World Suicide Prevention Day campaign, with the call to action “Start the Conversation”.
The WHO is urging governments and communities to challenge misconceptions, encourage people to discuss their experiences and improve access to support and quality care.
The organisation estimates that more than 720,000 people die by suicide worldwide each year, with 73% of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
