Estonia ranks 6th in Europe in terms of suicide figure

TALLINN – Although the suicide rate in Estonia has been on a downward trend in recent decades, it still remains significantly higher than the European average and Estonia is currently ranked sixth in Europe in terms of the number of suicides.

While in 2000 there were 28 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants in Estonia, by 2023 this figure had dropped to 14, or half as many. While a total of 376 suicides were registered in Estonia in 2000, there were 192 in 2023. The frequency of suicides is still higher among men. Both in 2000 and 2023, the standardized suicide rate for men was almost four times higher and the total number of suicides was almost three times higher than for women.

Zrinka Laido, project manager of the suicide prevention action plan at the Ministry of Social Affairs, said that although the number of suicides in Estonia has decreased, it is still higher than the European Union average.

"Approximately 200 people die from suicide each year in Estonia," she said, adding that although progress is noticeable, there is still a long way to go to reach the same level as other European countries.

"We still have a lot to do both in prevention and in improving the availability of mental health services," Laido said.

The number of suicides was highest last year among people aged 40-59 with 56 cases, followed by 60-79-year-olds with 48, 20-39-year-olds with 47, people over 80 year of age with 31 and 10-19-year-olds with 10 cases of suicide. The standardized suicide rate was highest for people over 80 years of age, at 39 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants. The 60-79-year-olds followed with 17, the 40-59-year-olds with 15, the 20-39-year-olds with 13, and the 10-19-year-olds with seven suicides. At this point, it should be taken into account that the number of people over 80 years old is significantly smaller and the total number of deaths is higher than in the other age groups observed.

Last year, suicides accounted for 1.2 percent of all causes of death. The share of suicides was highest in the 10-19 age group, where it was 26.3 percent, followed by 20-39-year-olds with 14.8 percent, 40-59-year-olds with 3.6 percent, 60-79-year-olds with 0.8 percent and over 80-year-olds with 0.6 percent. Although the share of suicides continues to be the highest among 10-19-year-olds, it must be taken into account that there are significantly fewer deaths from other causes, such as diseases, in this age group.

Based on the acquired level of education, the suicide rate in the period 2012-2023 was consistently the highest among people with a basic education level or lower. In 2023, the number of suicides per 100,000 inhabitants was 29 among people with basic education or less, 15 among people with secondary education or vocational education based on secondary education, and nine among people with higher education or vocational secondary education based on higher education.

The connection between education and suicide is likely influenced by a number of socioeconomic factors that affect satisfaction with life. For example, it is easier for people with higher education to find a job, they are more financially secure and their social interactions are more diverse, which in turn promotes a higher level of satisfaction with life.