This table provides metadata for the actual indicator available from UK statistics closest to the corresponding global SDG indicator. Please note that even when the global SDG indicator is fully available from UK statistics, this table should be consulted for information on national methodology and other UK-specific metadata information.
Indicator available |
Suicide mortality rate |
---|---|
Indicator description |
Suicide mortality rates in the United Kingdom |
Geographical coverage |
United Kingdom |
Unit of measurement |
Rate per 100,000 population |
Definitions |
- Suicide - These data follow the National Statistics definition of suicide, which is based on codes from the International Classification of Diseases. See the three paragraphs below for the details of deaths that are included in UK data on suicide. - All deaths that were assigned the underlying cause of ‘intentional self-harm for persons aged 10 years and above’ (ICD-9 code - E950 - E959 for deaths registered between 1981 and 2000 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and between 1981 and 1999 in Scotland. ICD-10 code - X60 - X84 for deaths registered since 2001 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and since 2000 in Scotland). - Deaths caused by ‘injury/poisoning of undetermined intent for persons aged 15 years and above’ (ICD-9 code - E980 - E989, but excluding E988.8 in England and Wales, for death registered between 1981 and 2000 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and between 1981 and 1999 in Scotland. ICD-10 code - Y10 - Y34, excluding Y33.9 in England and Wales where the coroner’s verdict was pending for the years 2001 to 2006, for deaths registered since 2001 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and since 2000 in Scotland). - Deaths caused by ‘sequelae of intentional self-harm / event of undetermined intent for persons aged 10 years and above’ in Scotland and Northern Ireland (ICD-10 code - Y87.0 and Y87.2 for deaths registered since 2001 in Northern Ireland and since 2000 in Scotland). |
Available disaggregations |
Sex, Age, Country, Region |
Calculations |
Age-standardised mortality rates (age-specific mortality rates when 5-year age group selected) |
Other information |
Figures are for deaths registered, rather than deaths occurring in each calendar year. Due to the length of time it takes to complete a coroner's inquest, it can take months or even years for a suicide to be registered. The large increase seen in Northern Ireland between 2004 and 2006 coincides with a change to the Coroners’ Service. Prior to April 2006, there were seven Coroners’ districts in Northern Ireland. Following a review of the Coroners’ Service, the separate districts were amalgamated into one centralised Coroners’ Service. Please note, data from 2019 and onwards represent suicides for England and Wales only and not UK. For more recent suicide statistics for other UK nations please see NRS Scotland and NISRA Nothern Ireland. Data follows the UN specification for this indicator. This indicator has been identified in collaboration with topic experts. |
Data last updated | 10 May 2022 |
Metadata last updated | 10 May 2022 |