Estonia's injury rates drop, but youth self-harm cases surge alarmingly

Estonia has seen a drop in overall injury cases, with figures falling by 7 percent in 2025. Over the past decade, the total number of injuries has decreased by 11 percent. However, intentional self-harm cases continue to rise, especially among young people. Falls remained the most common cause of injury in 2025, making up 42 percent of all cases. Children aged 5-14 and young people aged 15-24 were the most affected groups, with around 31,000 and 23,000 injury cases respectively.

Intentional self-harm cases have surged, particularly among the young. Among children aged 5-14, these cases have more than tripled since 2016. For those aged 15-24, the number has doubled in the same period. In 2025 alone, over 2,100 intentional self-harm cases were recorded, marking a 38 percent increase from 2016.

Girls accounted for the majority of these cases, representing 79 percent among children aged 5-14 and 65 percent among those aged 15-24. Alcohol played a role in many incidents, being a factor in 53 percent of intentional self-harm cases among men and 29 percent among women. Meanwhile, the number of suicides in Estonia stayed steady at 179 recorded cases in 2025. The overall decline in injuries shows progress in safety measures. Yet the sharp rise in intentional self-harm among young people, especially girls, highlights a growing concern. Alcohol involvement in many of these cases adds another layer to the issue.