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Suicide

Volume 487: debated on Monday 9 February 2009

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many (a) males and (b) females in each age group committed suicide in the last year for which records are available. (255546)

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated February 2009:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many (a) males and (b) females in each age group committed suicide in the last year for which records are available. (255546)

The table attached provides the number of deaths where suicide was the underlying cause of death for persons aged 15 and over, for (a) males and (b) females by five year age group for 2007 (the latest year available).

Table 1: Number of deaths where suicide was the underlying cause of death, England and Wales, by sex and 5-year age group, 20071,2,3,4

Deaths

Age

Male

Female

15-19

96

32

20-24

227

40

25-29

268

56

30-34

343

90

35-39

431

91

40-44

418

106

45-49

311

124

50-54

284

98

55-59

268

83

60-64

196

79

65-69

126

53

70-74

84

43

75-79

91

40

80-84

89

38

85+

64

37

1 Suicide was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84 and Y10-Y34, excluding Y33.9 (where the Coroner's verdict was pending).

2 Figures include deaths of non-residents.

3 Suicide and undetermined intent deaths have not been included for children under the age of 15 years.

4 Figures are for deaths registered in 2007.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many (a) males and (b) females (i) under the age of 18, (ii) aged between 18 and 25 and (iii) over the age of 25 years committed suicide each year since 1992. (255551)

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Karen Dunnell:

As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many (a) males and (b) females in (i) under the age of 18, (ii) aged between 18 and 25 and (iii) over the age of 25 years committed suicide in each year since 1992. (255551)

The table attached provides the number of deaths where suicide was the underlying cause of death for persons aged 15 and over, for (a) males and (b) females by five year aged (i) 15 to 17 years, (ii) 18 to 25 years and (iii) over 25 years for 1992 to 2007 (the latest year available).

Table 1: Number of deaths where suicide was the underlying cause of death, England and Wales, by sex and age group, 1992-071,2,3,4

Male

Female

15-17

18-25

Over 25

15-17

18-25

Over 25

1992

33

616

3,393

13

133

1,270

1993

41

617

3,150

14

121

1,222

1994

48

563

3,164

13

111

1,169

1995

24

549

3,268

19

106

1,145

1996

38

478

3,143

19

124

1,096

1997

41

537

2,987

23

103

1,123

1998

60

548

3,431

16

124

1,153

1999

42

465

3,455

24

110

1,137

2000

39

461

3,270

18

123

1,158

2001

50

427

3,216

15

97

1,086

2002

45

380

3,108

16

113

1,089

2003

40

413

3,127

19

93

1,104

2004

39

391

3,146

16

107

1,172

2005

32

356

3,093

21

97

1,103

2006

36

327

3,017

18

91

1,015

2007

39

332

2,925

15

65

930

1 Suicide was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes E950-E959 and E980-E989, excluding E988.8 for the years 1988 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes X60-X84 and Y10-Y34, excluding Y33.9 (where the Coroner's verdict was pending) for the years 2001 to 2007.

2 Figures include deaths of non-residents.

3 Suicide and undetermined intent deaths have not been included for children under the age of 15 years.

4 Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.