10 October 2025
Last week, the Office for National Statistics issued its latest suicide statistics for England and Wales (1981-2024) and for Mental Health Awareness Day today – they make for grim reading. The statistics combine England and Wales, and there are separate data for each of the two countries.
Figure 1: Suicide Rates per 100,000 in England and Wales – 1981 to 2024 (actual deaths)
In summary, the figures show:
- The combined suicide rate for men in England and Wales is the highest this century (17.6 per 100,000 in 2024 and 17.2 in 2000). A total of 4,599 men in 2024 and 3,771 in 2000. Comparing both years though hides this century’s dip as the figures fell to 14.2 (3,301 men) in 2007 and have been rising ever since.
- The number of men dying by suicide in England and Wales this century is 95,255 – more than the attendance at England v Wales match at Wembley last night.
- The male suicide rate in Wales between 2023 and 2024 has increased alarmingly. From 22.0 in 2023 to 25.0 in 2024 (an extra 41 deaths). It is now higher than in Scotland. The male English suicide rate fell slightly from 17.1 in 2023 to 17.0 in 2024 – however, due to population growth it still led to an extra 43 deaths.
- Men across England and Wales continue to make up three in every four suicides (74%).
- Looking back to figures from 1981, the male rate has only fallen by 8% (19.2 in 1981 to 17.6 in 2024) while the female rate has fallen far more sharply by 46% (10.5 in 1981 to 5.7 in 2024).
- Combining the figures across the UK shows that c5200-5300 men die by suicide every year – a rate of more than 14 every day. Scotland saw 518 male suicides in 2024 at a rate of 19.3 – the second lowest rate this century. Northern Ireland’s 2023 figures show 171 suicides at a rate of 20.9.
As ever, there are many more trends within the data to be explored on age (50-54 is now the peak male age for suicide at 27.5 per 100,000 in England and Wales) and by region (the male suicide rate in the North East is 23.8 compared to 12.7 in London).
Please do contact a range of organisations for support: Samaritans, CALM, Papyrus and James’ Place.
And please check in on your mates – see why in this video here: Brighton and Hove Albion FC
Note: Rates are expressed in numbers per 100,000 which is what the ONS use