ABS data summary 2020

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) provides in-depth data and statistical information around suicide-related deaths across Australia.

Mindframe supports media professionals in communicating and contextualising statistical information safely to the public through advice, infographics, and downloadable summaries.

Why are the ABS statistics important?

The ABS Causes of Death data provide in-depth statistics information around suicide-related deaths across the country.

Statistics referencing suicide provide context and are drawn upon in policy and decision making, media and communications and in raising community awareness.

ABS Causes of Death data 2020

In 2020, there was a decrease in suicide deaths from 3,318 deaths in 2019 (12.9 per 100,000) to 3,139 deaths in 2020 (12.1 per 100,000). This is the lowest national suicide rate recorded since 2016.
The suicide rate for males decreased by 6.1% between 2019 and 2020.
The suicide rate for females decreased by 7.9% between 2019 and 2020.
Young and middle-aged people are more likely to die by suicide, with 83.6% of people under 65 years.
Men over 85 years had the highest age-specific suicide rate but accounted for the smallest proportion (3.1%) of male suicides. Men aged 40-54 years accounted for over one quarter (26.7%) of male suicides.
Women aged 45-49 years had the highest age-specific suicide rate and accounted for the highest proportion (10.9%) of female suicides.

ABS Causes of Death data summary 2020

A summary of the data was prepared by Everymind using the ABS Causes of Death (Catalogue No. 3303.0) data, released 29 September 2021. The data summary was used to support the Mindframe team in briefing the media, and the mental health and suicide prevention sector.

A full breakdown is available on Life in Mind.