The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released its 2016 Causes of Death data on 27 September 2017 - which includes annual national suicide information. The following summary has been developed by Mindframe, an initiative of Everymind - www.mindframe-media.info

1. Australian State and Territory
suicide data 2016

2. Australian Capital Territory

3. Number of Deaths
In the ACT in 2016:
• 28 people died by suicide
(20 male, 8 female), a significant
decrease from the 46 recorded in
2015.
• The number of suicide deaths and
the age-standardised rate was the
lowest across Australia.
• Approximately 1% of the total
national suicide numbers place
of usual residence was in the ACT.
Figure 1: Number of suicide deaths by State and Territory

4. Age-standardised suicide rate
ACT in 2016:
• Recorded the lowest
standardised suicide rate
(7.2 per 100,000) in Australia.
• The suicide rate was
significantly lower than the
average age-standardised
rate for ACT in the 2015
(11.4 per 100,000).
• The rate was considerably
lower than the national
age-standardised suicide rate
(11.7 per 100,000).
Figure 2: Age-standardised suicide rates for each
State/Territory in Australia
10.3 9.9
13.9
13.3
14.4
17.0
19.3
7.2
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS NT ACT
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
State or Territory

5. ACT 2012-2016
Over the past five years there have been:
• six deaths due to suicide for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples living in the ACT
• 162 deaths due to suicide for non-Indigenous.
Note: rates are not published as a result of small numbers.

6. New South Wales

7. Number of Deaths
In New South Wales in 2016:
• 805 people died by suicide in
NSW (614 male, 191 female),
which was a slight decrease on
the 815 recorded in 2015.
• The number of suicide deaths
was highest in NSW (805),
followed by QLD (674) and VIC
(624).
• NSW accounted for 28% of all
deaths by suicide in Australia.
Figure 1: Number of suicide deaths by State and Territory

8. Age-standardised suicide rate
New South Wales 2016:
• Recorded the third lowest
age-standardised suicide rate
(10.3 per 100,000) in Australia.
• The age-standardised suicide
rate was lower than the national
age standardised suicide rate
(11.7 per 100,000).
• The age-standardised suicide
rate for men (15.9 per 100,000)
which is lower than observed in
2015 (16.4). Figure 2: Age-standardised suicide rates for each State/Territory
in Australia
10.3 9.9
13.9
13.3
14.4
17.0
19.3
7.2
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS NT ACT
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
State or Territory

9. NSW 2016
• The NSW suicide rate was higher
in areas outside of Greater
Sydney.
• A similar trend was observed
across most states and
territories.
In 2016:
• Greater Sydney saw its lowest
age-standardised rate in the past
5 years.
• The rest of NSW saw a modest
decrease from 2015. Figure 3: Age-standardised suicide rate by place of
usual residence.
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
Greater Sydney
Rest of NSW
NSW Total

10. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander –
NSW 2016
2016 New South Wales specific statistics indicated that:
• 41 (35 male, 6 female) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people died by suicide.
• Suicide was the 5th leading cause of death for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples in the state, compared to the
17th leading cause of death for non-Indigenous.
• The standardised death rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples (18.6 per 100,000) was considerably higher
than the non-Indigenous rate (9.7 per 100,000).

11. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander –
NSW 2012-2016
Between 2012-2016 in New South Wales:
• 150 (113 male, 37 female) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
deaths have been attributed to intentional self-harm, which
represents 3.9% of all causes of death.
• For Indigenous Australians in NSW, suicide is ranked 5th in the
leading causes of death.
• The suicide rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
(16.1 per 100,000) in NSW was considerably higher than the
non-Indigenous population (9.8 per 100,000) for the same
period.

12. Northern Territory

13. Number of Deaths
In Northern Territory 2016:
• 46 people died by suicide
(38 male, 8 female), which is a
slight decrease on the 50
recorded in 2015.
• The number of suicide deaths
was second lowest across
Australia, only higher than the
ACT (28).
• NT accounted for approximately
1.6% of all deaths by suicide in
Australia in 2016.
Figure 1: Number of suicide deaths by State and Territory

14. Age-standardised suicide rate
Northern Territory 2016:
• Recorded the highest
age-standardised suicide
rate (19.3 per 100,000) in
Australia.
• This rate is significantly
higher than the national
age-standardised rate
(11.7 per 100,000).
• However, the rate has
slightly decreased from the
2015 age-standardised rate
(21.0 per 100,000). Figure 2: Age-standardised suicide rates for each
State/Territory in Australia
10.3 9.9
13.9
13.3
14.4
17.0
19.3
7.2
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
NSW Vic. Qld SA WA Tas. NT ACT
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
State or Territory

15. Northern Territory 2016
• Across most states and territories, the suicide rate was lower
in capital cities compared to regions outside of the capital.
• However, in NT in 2016, the number of deaths in Darwin (30)
were higher than that of the rest of the NT (14).
Over the past five years:
• The average number of deaths by suicide each year have
been relatively equal between in Greater Darwin (23) and
outside of Darwin (22).

16. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander –
Northern Territory 2016
2016 Northern Territory specific statistics indicated that:
• 18 (14 male, 1 female, 3 gender unknown) Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people died by suicide.
• Suicide was the 5th leading annual cause of death for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, compared
to the 4th leading cause of death for non-Indigenous
Australians in the Northern Territory.

17. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander –
Northern Territory 2012-2016
Between 2012-2016 in the Northern Territory:
• 106 (62 male, 44 female) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
deaths have been attributed to intentional self-harm, which
represents 4.1% of all causes of death.
• For Indigenous Australians in NT, suicide is ranked 5th in the
leading causes of death.
• The suicide rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
(26.4 per 100,000) in NT was considerably higher than the
non-Indigenous population (14.4 per 100,000).

18. Queensland

19. Number of Deaths
In Queensland 2016:
• 674 people died by suicide
(525 male, 149 female), which was a
decrease on the 746 recorded in 2015.
• The number of suicide deaths was
second highest across Australia,
slightly less than NSW (805), but more
than VIC (624).
• QLD accounted for approximately 24%
of all deaths by suicide in Australia in
2016.
Figure 1: Number of suicide deaths by State and Territory

20. Age-standardised suicide rate
Queensland 2016:
• Recorded the fourth highest
age-standardised suicide
rate (13.9 per 100,000) in
Australia.
• This rate was lower than
the rate for Qld in 2015
(15.7 per 100,000).
• The rate is higher than the
national age-standardised
rate (11.7 per 100,000).
Figure 2: Age-standardised suicide rates for each
State/Territory in Australia
10.3 9.9
13.9
13.3
14.4
17.0
19.3
7.2
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS NT ACT
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
State or Territory

21. Queensland 2016
• The Qld suicide rate was
higher in areas outside
of Greater Brisbane.
• A similar trend was
observed across most
states and territories.
In 2016:
• The suicide rate in both
Greater Brisbane and
the rest of Queensland
decreased since 2015.
Figure 3: Age-standardised suicide rate by place of usual residence
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
18.0
20.0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
Years
Greater Brisbane
Rest of QLD
QLD total

22. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander –
Queensland 2016
2016 Queensland specific statistics indicated that:
• 52 (37 male, 15 female) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people died by suicide.
• Suicide was the 5th leading annual cause of death for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, compared to the
10th leading cause of death for non-Indigenous Australians.
• The standardised death rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples (22.8 per 100,000) was considerably higher
than the non-Indigenous rate (13.1 per 100,000).

23. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander –
Queensland 2012-2016
Between 2012-2016 in Queensland:
• 225 (172 male, 53 female) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
deaths have been attributed to intentional self-harm, which
represents 5.8% of all causes of death.
• For Indigenous Australians in QLD, suicide is ranked 4th in the
leading causes of death.
• The suicide rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples (23.3 per 100,000) in QLD was considerably higher
than the non-Indigenous population (13.6 per 100,000).

24. South Australia

25. Number of Deaths
In South Australia 2016…
• 225 people died by suicide
(165 male, 60 female), which was a
slight decrease on the 236 recorded
in 2015.
• The number of suicide deaths was
fifth highest across Australia, less than
NSW (805), QLD (674), VIC (624) and
WA (371).
• SA accounted for approximately 7.9%
of all deaths by suicide in Australia
in 2016.
Figure 1: Number of suicide deaths by State and Territory

26. Age-standardised suicide rate
South Australia 2015:
• Recorded the fifth highest
age-standardised suicide
rate (13.3 per 100,000) in
Australia.
• This rate is slightly less than
2015 (13.4 per 100,000).
• The rate was also slightly
higher than the national
age-standardised suicide
rate (11.7 per 100,000).
Figure 2: Age-standardised suicide rates for each State/Territory in
Australia
10.3 9.9
13.9
13.3
14.4
17.0
19.3
7.2
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS NT ACT
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
State or Territory

27. South Australia 2016
In 2016:
• There was only 0.2 per 100,000
difference between the age-
standardised death rate in
Greater Adelaide
(13.3 per 100,000) and the rest
of SA (13.5 per 100,000)
Over the past 5 years:
• The age-standardised rate in SA
has increased since 2012.
Figure 3: Age-standardised suicide rate by place of
usual residence
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
Year
Greater Adelaide
Rest of SA
SA Total

28. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander –
South Australia 2012-2016
Between 2012-2016 in South Australia:
• 37 (23 male, 14 female) Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander deaths have been attributed to intentional
self-harm, which represents 4.4% of all causes of death.
• For Indigenous Australians in SA, suicide is ranked 5th in
the leading causes of death.
• The suicide rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples (21.3 per 100,000) in SA was considerably higher
than the non-indigenous population (12.6 per 100,000).

29. Tasmania

30. Number of Deaths
In Tasmania 2016…
• 92 people died by suicide
(68 male, 24 female), which was
a modest increase on the 85
recorded in 2015.
• The number of suicide deaths
was third lowest across Australia,
only higher than NT (46) and ACT
(28).
• Tasmania accounted for
approximately 3.2% of all deaths
by suicide in Australia in 2016.
Figure 1: Number of suicide deaths by State and Territory

31. Age-standardised suicide rate
Tasmania 2016:
• Despite low numbers,
Tasmania recorded the second
highest age-standardised
suicide rate (17.0 per 100,000)
in Australia.
• This rate is slightly higher than
the age-standardised rate for
2015 (16.3 per 100,000).
• This rate is considerably higher
than the national
age-standardised suicide rate
(11.7 per 100,000).
Figure 2: Age-standardised suicide rates for each
State/Territory in Australia
10.3 9.9
13.9
13.3
14.4
17.0
19.3
7.2
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS NT ACT
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
State or Territory

32. Tasmania 2016
• Tasmania’s suicide rate was higher in areas
outside of Greater Hobart.
• A similar trend was observed across most
states and territories.
Over the past five years:
• There has been trend toward increased rates
in the rest of Tasmania, however 2016 saw a
modest decrease on 2015 rates.
• In Greater Hobart, there has been a gradual
increase in the age standardised suicide rate
from 2014 (9.9) with a rate of 12.5 recorded
in 2015 and another increase in 2016 (15.2).
• Five deaths due to suicide for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples living in
Tasmania from 2012 – 2016.
Figure 3: Age-standardised suicide rate by place of
usual residence
0
5
10
15
20
25
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
Year
Greater Hobart
Rest of Tas
Tas Total

33. Victoria

34. Number of Deaths
In Victoria 2016:
• 624 people died by suicide
(454 male, 170 female), which
was slightly less than the 654
recorded in 2015.
• The number of suicide deaths
was third highest across Australia,
following NSW (805) and QLD
(674).
• Victoria accounted for
approximately 21.8% of all deaths
by suicide in Australia.
Figure 1: Number of suicide deaths by State and Territory

35. Age-standardised suicide rate
Victoria 2016:
• Recorded the second lowest
age-standardised suicide
rate (9.9 per 100,000) in
Australia.
• This rate is down slightly
from last year
(10.8 per 100,000).
• The rate is lower than the
national age-standardised
rate (11.7 per 100,000). Figure 2: Age-standardised suicide rates for each
State/Territory in Australia
10.3 9.9
13.9
13.3
14.4
17.0
19.3
7.2
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS NT ACT
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
State or Territory

36. Victoria 2016
• The Victorian suicide rate was higher
in areas outside of Greater
Melbourne.
• A similar trend was observed across
most states and territories.
Over the past five years:
• The suicide rate in Greater
Melbourne has remained relatively
stable.
• There has been 32 deaths due to
suicide for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples living in
Victoria from 2012 – 2016. Figure 3: Age-standardised suicide rate by place of
usual residence
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
14.0
16.0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
Year
Greater Melbourne
Rest of Vic
Vic Total

37. Western Australia

38. Number of Deaths
In Western Australia 2016:
• 371 people died by suicide
(266 male, 105 female), which was
a modest decrease on the 394
recorded in 2015.
• The number of suicide deaths was
fourth highest across Australia,
following NSW (805), QLD (674)
and VIC (624).
• WA accounted for approximately
13.7% of all deaths by suicide in
Australia in 2016.Figure 1: Number of suicide deaths by State and Territory

39. Age-standardised suicide rate
Western Australia 2016:
• Recorded the third highest
age-standardised suicide
rate (14.4 per 100,000) in
Australia.
• This rate was slightly less
higher than last years
(15.3 per 100,000).
• However, the rate was
higher than the national
age-standardised suicide
rate (11.7 per 100,000).
Figure 2: Age-standardised suicide rates for each
State/Territory in Australia
10.3 9.9
13.9
13.3
14.4
17.0
19.3
7.2
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
NSW VIC QLD SA WA TAS NT ACT
AgeStandardisedSuicideRate(per100,000)
State or Territory

40. Western Australia 2016
• The Western Australia suicide
rate was higher in areas outside
of Greater Perth.
• A similar trend was observed
across most states and
territories.
Over the past five years:
• The suicide rate in Perth has
remained stable.
• However, the age-standardised
suicide rate of regions outside of
Perth has increased.
Figure 3: Age-standardised suicide rate by place of
usual residence
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
AgeStandardisedRate(per100,000)
Year
Greater Perth
Rest of WA
WATotal

41. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander –
Western Australia 2016
2016 Western Australia specific statistics indicated that:
• 47 (31 male, 16 female) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people died by suicide.
• Suicide was the 3rd leading annual cause of death for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, compared to the
12th leading cause of death for non-Indigenous people.
• The standardised death rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples (43.9 per 100,000) was considerably higher
than the non-Indigenous rate (12.2 per 100,000).

42. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander –
Western Australia 2012-2016
Between 2012-2016 in Western Australia:
• 202 (144 male, 58 female) Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander deaths have been attributed to intentional
self-harm, which represents 8.0% of all causes of death.
• For Indigenous Australians in WA, suicide is ranked 3rd in
the leading causes of death.
• The suicide rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples (40.6 per 100,000) in WA was considerably higher
than the non-Indigenous population (12.3 per 100,000).

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