The state of suicide in Australia (2025)
Updated: 7 days ago
The Australian Government invested over $46 Million to address the high suicide rate in Australia as part of the 2022-2023 budget, and, looking at the numbers, the investment has provided a significant pay off to the country with a massive reduction in deaths across all states and territories. It’s not often that a spend like this delivers immediate results, but the numbers don’t lie. The $46 Million investment by the Albanese Government has saved lives and made Australia a better place to live. Bravo.
In the Northern Territory, suicide rates are now the lowest they have been since we started tracking the information (11.9 per 100,000) and the Northern Territory has almost halved the number of suicides, bringing death rates down to only slightly above the National average of (10.7 per 100,000). In 2021 the Northern Territory was the worst state in the country for suicide, with 21.9 deaths per 100,000 population, this was due to a disproportionate number of indigenous deaths. Come 2023, the Northern Territory can boast the biggest turnaround in the country. This means that money allocated to indigenous communities was well spent as indigenous lives were a key priority stipulated in the tender that drove the allocation of funds.
In 2016 the Northern Territory peaked at 28.6 deaths per 100,000, and in 2019, the Northern Territory was 7.2 deaths per 100,000 higher than the next state in the country rating 21.9 deaths per 100,000. The most recent data exemplifies suicide rates in the Northern Territory are now at 11.9 deaths per 100,000. This is better than that of Tasmania (13.9 per 100,000), Western Australia (13.3 per 100,000) and Queensland (13.0 per 100,000). It’s also worth noting that numbers in the Northern Territory are not that much worse than South Australia (10.4 per 100,000), Victoria (9.8 per 100,000) and New South Whales (9.1 per 100,000), whilst the Australian Capital Territory is significantly better, with 6.1 deaths per 100,000 population.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare have published conflicting information as to the national suicide numbers which makes commentary difficult. The most recent state comparison data sourced taken from the AIHW National Mortality Database and ABS Causes of Death, Australia 2024 report rate the 2019 national suicide rate in Australia at 11.8 per 100,000 population, yet their report into international suicide rates pegs our national 2019 rate at 10.4 per 100,000. This data is sourced from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 (GBD 2019 Results. Seattle, United States Institution for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) 2020, so we have to assume the least favorable numbers, utilising Australian ABS statistics are more accurate with the higher suicide rate of 11.8 deaths per 100,000 population.
Australian Suicide rates are marginally higher than the average rate of comparative G20 countries that report 10.2 deaths per 100,000. This is disappointing as Australia reported a much lower suicide rate than comparative G20 countries right up until 2014 when Australian numbers increased. The G20 average has enjoyed a steady decline so Australia has been going against the grain seeing suicide numbers increase. The 2024 report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that Australia actually ranked 23 of 43 G20 countries (19 members nations plus remaining 24 European Union nations individually represented).
Is it cost of living pressure or a lack of funding towards suicide prevention that caused the increase? Given the major impact the conservative investment of $46 Million has had on rates across the country, lack of funding is the likely culprit and increased funding the most obvious solution should we as a nation want to see a continued improvement in the nations suicide rate.
That's The state of suicide in Australia (2025).
Glenn Hall is a former advertising executive turned freelance communications consultant. Glenn has a fresh perspective on topical issues and a unique way of viewing the world. With diverse interests, no topic is out of reach and Glenn will be sure to challenge your thinking.
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