There are fifty-four (54) countries in Africa. Africa currently has a population of about 1.4 billion people, and it is projected to reach to close to 2.5 billion by 2050 according to UN estimates. There are over 3,000 languages spoken in Africa and some of the most widely spoken are Swahili, Arabic and French. The WHO reports that Africa has the highest suicide mortality rates in the world, with approximately 11.2 suicide deaths per 100,000 people, as compared to the global average of 9.0 deaths per 100,000 people. Male suicide rates are higher than female suicide rates, and suicide ranks among the top 12 causes of death among young people between the ages of 10 and 24, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Six African nations—Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Central African Republic, Mozambique, and South Africa—are among the top ten countries in the world for suicide rates. Suicide risk factors include history of mental health problems, substance use, financial difficulties, and exposure to adversity. These are similar to global variables. Hanging, pesticide self-poisoning, use of firearms, and medication overdose are some of the common methods used in the region. 

Suicide research in Africa is limited by a lack of systematic data collection. Information is available for sixteen (16) African countries, which together make up about 60% of the continent’s population. Less than 10% of African countries report mortality data to WHO, which indicates the lack of official statistics available in the region. Much of the available published suicide data are based primarily on small studies conducted in different regions and populations. Also, reported suicide mortality statistics are likely to underestimate the true magnitude of the problem as religious and cultural sanctions may lead to suicide being under-reported, misclassified or deliberately concealed. Data are often obtained from hospital records which underestimate the number of cases, as many individuals are only admitted to hospital if in a critical condition.