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Sweden has a suicide rate which is below the OECD average. For much of the 20th century, Sweden had one of the highest reported suicide rates in the First World. That rate exceeded that of other nations on the continent such as the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom. However, that rate declined decade after decade as time went on.
In 2011, 1378 suicide deaths occurred, which equates to a rate of 17.5 per 100,000 people. Individuals aged between 45 and 74 are most likely to take their own life, while individuals ages 15 to 24 are least likely.
Men are also far more likely than women to commit suicide. In 2011, 962 male deaths occurred versus 416 female deaths.
According to a 2011 article in The New York Times, "Numerous studies have shown that places like Denmark and Sweden that consistently score high on measures of happiness and life satisfaction also have relatively high suicide rates." Said article also reported, "Some social scientists speculate that the trends are probably unrelated and can be explained by regional factors like dark winters or cultural differences regarding suicide."