Suicide rate drops, but remains top cause of death for under-30s

A total of 1,758 people took their own lives in the Netherlands in 2025, an average of almost five a day and 92 fewer than the year before, according to provisional figures from national statistics office CBS.

At 9.7 per 100,000 people, the suicide rate was at its lowest level since 2010. It had ranged between 9.9 and 11.2 per 100,000 in every year since.

Men accounted for more than two-thirds of the total. There were 1,205 suicides among men, against 553 among women, a gap that holds across almost every age group and is widest among the over-80s.

The overall fall, however, masks a longer-term rise among young people. Suicide remains the leading cause of death for people under 30: it accounted for 22% of deaths among teenagers in 2025 and 28% among people in their twenties, more than road accidents in both groups.

The rate among young women has climbed over the past 25 years. Among girls aged 10 to 19 it has roughly doubled since the early 2000s, and 29 girls in that age group took their own lives last year.

The highest rates are still found among people in their 50s and 60s, who made up 37% of all suicides in 2025.

If you or someone close to you is struggling with thoughts of suicide, help is available. In the Netherlands, call 113 or 0800-0113 (free) for 24/7 support, or visit 113.nl, where the chat service is available in English.