- 3,307 lives were lost to suicide in 2024
- Peak body urges action to address suicide rates
- Females aged between 25-29 years accounted for the highest proportion of deaths due to suicide (12.3%) among females
- Suicide rates in remote and very remote areas highest in five years
Suicide Prevention Australia is urging immediate action from government, workplaces and community to address suicide rates, with new Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data revealing 3,307 Australians died by suicide in 2024.
The data shows some groups remain at significantly higher risk of suicide — particularly men, people in rural and remote areas, First Nations peoples, and those working in certain occupations.
These numbers are preliminary with an expectation that there will be an increase in some jurisdictions as more coronial information becomes available to the ABS.
While males continue to account for just over three quarters of suicide deaths, concerningly the data also revealed females aged between 25-29 years had the highest age-specific suicide rate and the largest increase in their age-specific suicide rate from 2023 among females. Suicide deaths among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people also increased by 8.1% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
CEO of Suicide Prevention Australia, Nieves Murray said these figures are devastating and stubbornly high.
“We must do more, and suicide prevention must be made a whole-of-government and whole-of-community priority.
“In addition to the lives lost, over 55,000 people attempt suicide every year. That’s 150 people every day, one person every 10 minutes. This cannot be ignored. We need more action now.
“We all have a role to play in preventing suicide. Governments can lead by embedding prevention across all areas of decision making; employers can prioritise mentally healthy workplaces and train frontline managers; as individuals we can get educated about suicide prevention and support one another.
“The Federal Government released Australia’s first National Suicide Prevention Strategy nine months ago. However, there has so far been no additional funding to support its implementation.
“All the pieces are in place for government to act. Suicide rates are not easing. Investing in and implementing this Strategy must be treated as a national priority,” said Ms Murray.
Suicide continues to impact men disproportionately. Men aged 45-49 accounted for 10.5% of all male suicides, the highest proportion among men, while those living in remote and very remote areas had suicide rates more than double those in major cities — the highest recorded in the past five years. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, suicide remains the second leading cause of death. In 2023-2024, technicians and trades workers were the most common occupation group among males who died by suicide, representing 27.6% of male suicides.
“Men, particularly those in regional areas and high-risk occupations, continue to be disproportionately impacted by suicide. It’s encouraging to see the government recognise this through the Special Envoy for Men’s Health. Now we have a real opportunity to build on that commitment with targeted, coordinated action,” said Ms Murray.
For the first time, the ABS Causes of Death data identified occupations most at risk of suicide. People working in trades and technical roles face a high number of suicides, reinforcing the importance of industry-based prevention models like those developed in the mining and construction sectors. Alarmingly, 164 female health professionals died by suicide across 2023-2024, highlighting the pressures facing the health workforce and the need to extend tailored workplace-based support to other sectors.
These occupational trends highlight not only where risk is highest, but also where prevention can be most impactful.
Suicide Prevention Australia’s recent Community Tracker released in September revealed almost a third (29%) of Australians have reached out to a suicide prevention service in the past 12 months, an increase of 10pp since May 2025.
“Demand for suicide prevention services is rising, yet many are already stretched to breaking point. The government must respond proportionately to this increase in need,” said Ms Murray.
“The people working to prevent suicide are saving lives every day — but this workforce is under enormous strain due to short-term funding and a lack of stability. The National Suicide Prevention Strategy is designed to fix this by building a sustainable, coordinated system so Australians can get help when and where they need it.
“The Strategy includes practical, immediate actions the government can take — requiring leadership rather than large budgets. Things like supporting families and carers to recognise suicidal distress, making support more available and affordable for people with chronic suicidal thoughts, and ensuring people in crisis are getting timely help from community and hospital services.
“Suicide is not just a health or mental health issue — it is a social and economic issue. The top risk factors in suicide deaths included not just mood and anxiety disorders, but also relationship problems, drug and alcohol use, and legal difficulties.
“To reduce suicide rates, Australia needs a whole-of-government response involving health, housing, education, justice, employment and more. The National Strategy outlines targeted, evidence-based actions to address the social and economic determinants of suicide. Now we need to see leadership and investment to make it real.
“It’s encouraging to see more comprehensive data now available on suicide. This additional clarity provides a stronger foundation for understanding the factors that contribute to suicide and for shaping future prevention efforts. We’ve long advocated for more regular and detailed reporting, so this is an important step forward — particularly the inclusion of occupation data, which will help guide targeted strategies and interventions.
“Australians need support that meets them where they are — but most of all, they need action. The government has put pen to paper. Now it’s time to act,” said Ms Murray.
Suicide Prevention Australia remains committed to advocating for lifesaving changes and will continue to work with its member organisations to reduce suicide rates in Australia.
“It’s important to remember that there is hope, and there is help available. Check in on those around you and if you’re experiencing distress, please reach out for support,” said Ms Murray.
Key statistics:
In 2024:
Overview:
- 3,307 Australians died by suicide in 2024 compared to 3,300 in 2023.
- Taking Australia’s changing population into account, the age-standardised rate of suicide (deaths per 100,000) has decreased from 12.1 in 2023 to 11.8 in 2024 with a decrease of around 8.5% from 2015.
- The median age of death by suicide was 46.0 years, compared to 82.0 for all causes of death.
- Suicide was the 16th leading cause of death overall, remaining unchanged from 2023.
- Suicide accounted for 15.9% of all child deaths in 2024.
Gender:
- Males have continued to account for over three quarters (76.5%) of deaths by suicide with males aged 60-64 having the largest increase in age-specific suicide rates from 2023-24 (an 18% increase).
- Females aged between 25-29 years had the highest age-specific suicide rate of females aged under 85 years (9.8 deaths per 100,000), with the highest proportion of suicide occurring in those aged between 25-29 years (12.3%).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people:
- Suicide was the 5th leading cause of death for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For men it was the 2nd leading cause and 10th for females in 2024.
- Over the five-year period 2020-2024, suicide was the leading and second leading cause of death for female and male Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children respectively.
Regional and remote:
- Suicide rates in remote and very remote Australia are the highest in five years, between 20.5 and 24.6 as compared with 9.9 to 10.9 in major cities.
States and Territories:
- The Northern Territory had the highest age-standardised rate of deaths by suicide at 19.3 per 100,000, while all other states and territories recorded at the same rate or lower comparing 2023 to 2024.
Occupation and risk factors:
- For males who died by suicide, technicians and trade workers was the most common major occupation group listed on their death registration (27.6%), while for females, professionals was the most common (21.8%).
- 79.7% of all suicide deaths recorded at least one risk factor with psychosocial risk factors being the most commonly reported (present in almost 66.7% of deaths by suicide).
ENDS
To get help 24/7, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, phone 000 for emergency services.
Help to report about suicide safely is available online: Go to https://mindframe.org.au/
Media enquiries:
Amelia Hew 0410 591 134 or ameliah@suicidepreventionaust.org
Alex Pursehouse 0423 196 136 or alexp@suicidepreventionaust.org
