National Suicide Rates


“Limerick City recorded an average rate of suicide of 16.7 per 100,000 people over the fourteen years of figures that we examined while the rate in the rest of Limerick County was 12.2. Cork City recorded the highest average rate at 18.5 per 100,000 and similarly the rate in the rest of Cork County was far lower – albeit still high – at 13.5.

From 2000 to 2013, the national average was 11.8 per 100,000 although that figure may end up fractionally higher as figures for 2013 are provisional, and could still rise slightly. Rates of suicide in Offaly, Wexford, and North Tipperary were also well above average and if you wish, you can explore our interactive map here to see rates across different counties and across the years.

The rate of suicide was remarkably low in some areas of the country with an average rate of just 6.7 per 100,000 recorded for the Dublin region of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown over the fourteen years examined. Another Dublin region, Fingal, also has a low average rate of just 6.8 while the average rate in Galway City across the time period examined was 8.5.

These figures appear to dispel any notion that either urban or rural areas are more likely to have a problem with suicide. That link is impossible to make when heavily urbanised areas are responsible for both the highest and lowest rates found, although underlying socio-economic factors may also be playing a big part.”

Information Courtesy of RTE’s News Investigations Unit