A rate, not a count
A value of 5.5 means an estimated 5.5 deaths per 100,000 people in that year. It is not the number of deaths.
Statistics & evidence
A careful reading of suicide mortality estimates across Africa—presented with context, provenance and respect for every life represented.
UN SDG indicator 3.4.2 · latest available year: 2021
The data shows difference—not destiny.
Country estimates vary widely. That variation should prompt better questions about prevention systems, reporting quality, social context and access to care—not simplistic comparisons between people or places.
54
African countries with a 2021 observation
7.1
median deaths per 100,000 across those countries
8
countries with estimates of 10 or more per 100,000
2021
latest year in this UN SDG series
Calculated from 54 country observations for UN SDG indicator 3.4.2. Median and count are summit-site calculations; country observations are UN data. View source ↗
Uganda’s estimate changed across two decades.
In this UN series, Uganda’s estimated rate declined from 6.8 in 2000 to 4.6 in 2015, before rising to 5.5 deaths per 100,000 in 2021. This describes the series; it does not identify a cause.
6.8
2000
6.3
2005
5.3
2010
4.6
2015
5.1
2019
4.9
2020
5.5
2021
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Data Portal, indicator 3.4.2, Uganda, 2000–2021. View source ↗
One indicator. A wide continental range.
The bars show the 2021 suicide mortality estimate per 100,000 people. The first ten are the highest observations in the dataset; Uganda and four regional reference countries are included for orientation.
Uganda highlighted
Lesotho
28.7
Eswatini
27.2
South Africa
22.3
Zimbabwe
17.3
Cabo Verde
14.9
Eritrea
13.2
Mozambique
10.6
Mauritius
10.5
Togo
9.3
Central African Republic
9.2
Uganda
5.5
Ghana
5.3
Nigeria
5.0
Kenya
4.6
Egypt
0.6
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Data Portal, indicator 3.4.2. View source ↗
Sex-disaggregated estimates reveal another prevention gap.
Across the selected countries, the estimated male suicide mortality rate is higher than the female rate. These population-level estimates do not explain why; they signal where gender-responsive research and prevention are needed.
Male
Female
Lesotho
per 100k
Male
41.4
Female
16.6
South Africa
per 100k
Male
35.4
Female
9.9
Zimbabwe
per 100k
Male
23.6
Female
11.7
Mozambique
per 100k
Male
15.6
Female
6.0
Uganda
per 100k
Male
8.8
Female
2.3
Nigeria
per 100k
Male
8.4
Female
1.5
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Data Portal, indicator 3.4.2, disaggregated by sex. View source ↗
Workforce capacity is part of the prevention picture.
Psychiatrist density is one limited measure of mental-health workforce capacity. These country observations are from 2016, so they describe an earlier evidence baseline—not today’s service availability.
A lower value does not describe the commitment or capability of communities, practitioners or informal care networks.
Uganda
0.08 · 2016
Kenya
0.18 · 2016
Ghana
0.06 · 2016
South Africa
1.52 · 2016
Egypt
1.60 · 2016
Source: WHO, via UN System Data Commons. Mental health worker density—psychiatrists, selected countries, 2016. View source ↗
Depression prevalence is context—not an explanation.
These 2015 WHO estimates describe the percentage of people estimated to be living with depression. They must not be used to infer why suicide rates differ, or to make claims about individual people.
Uganda
4.6%
Kenya
4.4%
Ghana
4.2%
Nigeria
3.9%
South Africa
4.6%
Egypt
3.5%
Source: WHO, via UN System Data Commons. Population-based prevalence of depression, selected countries, 2015. View source ↗
How to read these figures
Comparable, with caution
International estimates improve comparability, but registration quality, classification and reporting practices still differ.
Estimates can change
UN statistical series may be revised as methods and underlying country data improve. The reference year is shown beside every visual.
People before numbers
Every observation represents lives, families and communities. Data should guide prevention—not label or rank people.
About the source
Data was retrieved through the UN System Data Commons. The underlying series is published by the United Nations Statistics Division for SDG indicator 3.4.2 and covers 2000–2021.
Let evidence lead to better prevention
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