The total number of suicides within the US military decreased in 2024 compared to the previous year, data released by the Pentagon. The Defense Department’s Annual Report on Suicide in the Military revealed that 471 service members died by suicide in 2024, a decline from 531 deaths in 2023. Additionally, the overall suicide rate per 100,000 military personnel also saw a reduction.
Notably, the majority of those who died by suicide in 2024 were enlisted males younger than 30 years old. The report highlighted that firearms remained the most frequently used method in these tragic cases.
Breaking down the numbers further, of the 471 suicide fatalities, 302 were active-duty service members, 64 belonged to the reserves, and 105 were part of the National Guard. In a significant development, the National Guard was the only military component to experience an increase in suicide rates per 100,000 troops compared to 2023.
Meanwhile, the report also addressed suicides among military family members during 2023, noting that 146 family members died by suicide, consistent with the previous year’s figures. Among these, 98 were spouses of military personnel, while 48 were dependents. Males represented 65 percent of suicides among military spouses and 60 percent among military dependents.
