More American soldiers are dying by suicide than in battle: Inside the startling numbers

A Pentagon analysis says more U.S. soldiers are dying of suicide than any other reason, with 65% of them taking their own lives with self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

The report examined the causes of 2,530 deaths among active-duty Army soldiers ages 17 to 64 from 2014 to 2019. It found personnel were nine times more likely to commit suicide than die in combat or an accident.

Learn more: What the Army is doing about suicides.

During the six years analyzed, 883 suicide deaths were reported. The analysis noted 814 deaths from accidental causes and 534 deaths from natural causes.

Suicides of male soldiers numbered 752 during the period. Female suicides were 51.

Soldiers ages 25 to 34 had the highest number of suicides with 319. Troops ages 17 to 24 were second-highest with 301.

Here is what a USA TODAY review of the study found:

Where suicide ranks in US Army deaths

Males had the highest number of gun-related suicides with 538 in the six-year period, while soldiers ages 25 to 34 had 245 such suicides.

By comparison, combat deaths dropped from 31 in 2014 to 16 in 2019 as deployments to war zones in the Middle East and Afghanistan decreased.

The U.S. Army Mortality Surveillance in Active DutySoldiers, 2014–2019, study was released on May 1.

If you or someone you know needs mental health resources and support, please call, text, or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org for 24/7 access to free and confidential services.

Contributing: Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY

Source: USA TODAY Network reporting and research; health.mil; Reuters