South Korea currently has the highest overall suicide rate among OECD countries worldwide. The suicide rate among women in South Korea is significantly higher than that of women in any other country. Nevertheless, suicide is commonly more prevalent among men than women. Suicide in the U.S. The suicide rate in the United States has risen since the year 2000. As of 2021, there were around 14.1 deaths from suicide per 100,000 population. The suicide rate among men in the U.S. is over three times what it is for females, a considerable and troubling difference. The suicide rate among men increases with age, with the highest rates found among men aged 75 years and older. Adolescent suicide Adolescent suicide is always a serious and difficult topic. A recent survey found that around 30 percent of female high school students in the United States had seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, compared to 14 percent of male students. On average, there are around 11 suicide deaths among adolescents per 100,000 population in the United States. The states with the highest rates of adolescent suicide include Idaho, Colorado, and Utah.

The countries with the highest suicide mortality rate worldwide in 2019 included Lesotho, Guyana, and Eswatini. Suicide rates of men are much higher than among women in many countries. Lithuania has one of the highest suicide rates for men as of 2019, while South Korea reports the highest suicide rate for women.

In the United States

Although the United States is not among the countries with the highest suicide mortality rate, suicide is still one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. As with other countries, the suicide rate among males in the U.S. is much higher than among females. The age group with the highest rate of suicide is those aged 45 to 64 years, followed by 25 to 44-year-olds. The states with the highest suicide rates are Wyoming, Alaska, and Montana.

Risk factors and help

Major risk factors for suicide include mental health issues and substance abuse problems; however, it can be difficult to predict who is at risk. Warning signs such as talking about wanting to die, expressing feelings of depression, suicidal ideation, and abusing drugs or alcohol should be taken seriously and help should be sought as soon as possible. Suicide hotlines exist in many countries around the world and one should not hesitate to discuss such issues and feelings with a health care provider.

In 2023, the 50 to 59-year age group had the highest suicide rate in Japan, with 23.4 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants. Middle-aged men are frequently portrayed as the highest-risk group for suicide in Japan. On the other hand, suicides among the elderly and schoolchildren are also recurrently picked up by the media. Japan's recent suicide rates Japan’s suicide numbers peaked in 2009 when the country experienced its worst recession since World War II. That same year, the suicide rate surged to 25.7 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants and almost 33 thousand victims in total. While the country's suicide rate has shown a steady downward trend in the most recent decade, 2020 marked the first time within the past decade that suicide numbers were rising again. The COVID-19 pandemic likely caused this upward trend.From a gender perspective, Japanese men are more likely to commit suicide than women. In 2023, 24.6 deaths per 100,000 male inhabitants were reported, compared to a female suicide rate of 10.9 in the same year.  What are the reasons behind Japan’s high suicide rates?  Many factors are being blamed for the Japan's high suicide rates, including financial anxiety, bullying, isolation, and a lack of a proficient mental healthcare system. Historically, the country's high suicide rates have been closely linked to the economic situation of the individuals. Existential worries and problems directly related to work have been one of the main reasons for self-inflicted deaths in the past years.In the past 10 years, one of the most profound issues faced by employees in Japan leading to self-harm was exhaustion. An increasing pressure of retaining jobs by putting in more hours of overtime, while taking fewer holidays and sick days, are considered the main motivators behind the rising suicide numbers among office workers and employees. Occupational sudden mortality, known as karoshi (“death by overwork”) is a well-known phenomenon in Japanese society. Besides physical pressure, mental stress from the workplace can cause karoshi. Suicide due to occupational stress or overwork is called karojisatsu (“overwork suicide”) in Japan.

Costa Rica CR: Suicide Mortality Rate: Male data was reported at 13.500 NA in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 13.400 NA for 2015. Costa Rica CR: Suicide Mortality Rate: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 13.400 NA from Dec 2000 to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 14.700 NA in 2010 and a record low of 12.800 NA in 2000. Costa Rica CR: Suicide Mortality Rate: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Costa Rica – Table CR.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Suicide mortality rate is the number of suicide deaths in a year per 100,000 population. Crude suicide rate (not age-adjusted).; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

Poland PL: Suicide Mortality Rate: Male data was reported at 28.900 NA in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 28.400 NA for 2015. Poland PL: Suicide Mortality Rate: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 29.000 NA from Dec 2000 to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 33.400 NA in 2010 and a record low of 28.400 NA in 2015. Poland PL: Suicide Mortality Rate: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Poland – Table PL.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Suicide mortality rate is the number of suicide deaths in a year per 100,000 population. Crude suicide rate (not age-adjusted).; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

The average for 2019 based on 12 countries was 11.65 suicides per 100,000 people. The highest value was in Guyana: 40.3 suicides per 100,000 people and the lowest value was in Venezuela: 2.1 suicides per 100,000 people. The indicator is available from 2000 to 2019. Below is a chart for all countries where data are available.

In 2023, Japan reported 17.6 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants. The country's suicide rate had shown a steady downwards trend over the past decade but began to rise again in 2020. The unexpected upward trend is likely to be connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.  What are the reasons behind Japan’s high suicide rates?  Historically, Japan’s high suicide rates were closely linked to the economic situation of individuals. While the majority of suicides in Japan stemmed from health reasons, existential worries and problems directly related to work also accounted for thousands of self-inflicted deaths in the past years. The most profound issue faced by employees in Japan leading to self-harm in the past decade has been exhaustion. An increasing pressure of retaining jobs by putting in more hours of overtime, while taking fewer holidays and sick days, were considered the main motivators behind the rising suicide numbers among office workers and employees. Occupational sudden mortality, known as karoshi ("death by overwork") is a well-known phenomenon in Japanese society. Besides physical pressure, mental stress from the workplace can cause karoshi. Suicide due to occupational stress or overwork is called karojisatsu ("overwork suicide") in Japan.  Which demographic groups are affected?  While middle-aged men were frequently portrayed as the highest-risk group for suicide in Japan, suicides among elderly and school children were recurrently picked up by the media. Financial anxiety, bullying, isolation, and the lack of a proficient mental healthcare system were only some factors contributing to the country’s high suicide rates among all age groups.

Syria SY: Suicide Mortality Rate: per 100,000 Population data was reported at 1.900 Number in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 1.900 Number for 2015. Syria SY: Suicide Mortality Rate: per 100,000 Population data is updated yearly, averaging 1.900 Number from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.900 Number in 2016 and a record low of 1.300 Number in 2000. Syria SY: Suicide Mortality Rate: per 100,000 Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Syrian Arab Republic – Table SY.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Suicide mortality rate is the number of suicide deaths in a year per 100,000 population. Crude suicide rate (not age-adjusted).; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

Benin BJ: Suicide Mortality Rate: Male data was reported at 13.900 NA in 2016. This stayed constant from the previous number of 13.900 NA for 2015. Benin BJ: Suicide Mortality Rate: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 13.500 NA from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 5 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13.900 NA in 2016 and a record low of 13.200 NA in 2000. Benin BJ: Suicide Mortality Rate: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Benin – Table BJ.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Suicide mortality rate is the number of suicide deaths in a year per 100,000 population. Crude suicide rate (not age-adjusted).; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

Global Suicide Mortality Rate by Country, 2023 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

In 2019, the rate of deaths due to suicide in Qatar was 3.9 per 100,000 people, the highest in that year among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The suicide death rate in the GCC region was significantly below the world average of 9.2 deaths per 100,000 people.

Since the 1950s, the suicide rate in the United States has been significantly higher among men than women. In 2022, the suicide rate among men was almost four times higher than that of women. However, the rate of suicide for both men and women has increased gradually over the past couple of decades. Facts on suicide in the United States In 2022, the rate of suicide death in the United States was around 14 per 100,000 population. The suicide rate in the U.S. has generally increased since the year 2000, with the highest rates ever recorded in the years 2018 and 2022. In the United States, death rates from suicide are highest among those aged 45 to 64 years and lowest among younger adults aged 15 to 24. The states with the highest rates of suicide are Montana, Alaska, and Wyoming, while New Jersey and Massachusetts have the lowest rates. Suicide among men In 2023, around 4.5 percent of men in the United States reported having serious thoughts of suicide in the past year. Although this rate is lower than that of women, men still have a higher rate of suicide death than women. One reason for this may have to do with the method of suicide. Although firearms account for the largest share of suicide deaths among both men and women, firearms account for almost 60 percent of all suicides among men and just 35 percent among women. Suffocation and poisoning are the other most common methods of suicide among women, with the chances of surviving a suicide attempt from these methods being much higher than surviving an attempt by firearm. The age group with the highest rate of suicide death among men is by far those aged 75 years and over.

乍得 TD: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female在2016达7.400 NA，相较于2015的7.500 NA有所下降。乍得 TD: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female数据按每年更新，2000至2016期间平均值为7.500 NA，共5份观测结果。该数据的历史最高值出现于2010，达7.900 NA，而历史最低值则出现于2000，为7.200 NA。CEIC提供的乍得 TD: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于World Bank，数据归类于Global Database的乍得 – Table TD.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics。

The suicide rate among females in the United States is highest for those aged 45 to 64 years and lowest among girls aged 10 to 14 and elderly women 75 and over. Although the suicide rate among women remains over three times lower than that of men, rates of suicide among women have gradually increased over the past couple decades. Suicide among women in the United States In 2021, there were around six suicide deaths per 100,000 women in the United States. In comparison, the rate of suicide among women in the year 2000 was about four per 100,000. Suicide rates among women are by far the highest among American Indians or Alaska Natives and lowest among Hispanic and Black or African American women. Although firearms are involved in the highest share of suicide deaths among both men and women, they account for a much smaller share among women. In 2020, the firearm suicide rate among women was 1.8 per 100,000 population, while the rates of suicide for suffocation and poisoning were 1.7 and 1.5 per 100,000, respectively. Suicidal ideation among women Although not everyone who experiences suicidal ideation, or suicidal thoughts, will attempt suicide, suicidal thoughts are a risk factor for suicide. In 2022, just over five percent of women in the United States reported having serious thoughts of suicide in the past year. Suicidal thoughts are more common among women than men even though men have much higher rates of death from suicide than women. This is because men are more likely to use more lethal methods of suicide such as firearms. Women who suffer from substance use disorder are significantly more likely to have serious thoughts of suicide than women without substance use disorder.

象牙海岸 CI: Suicide Mortality Rate: Male在2016达20.600 NA，相较于2015的20.500 NA有所增长。象牙海岸 CI: Suicide Mortality Rate: Male数据按每年更新，2000至2016期间平均值为18.300 NA，共5份观测结果。该数据的历史最高值出现于2016，达20.600 NA，而历史最低值则出现于2000，为13.700 NA。CEIC提供的象牙海岸 CI: Suicide Mortality Rate: Male数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于World Bank，数据归类于Global Database的象牙海岸 – Table CI.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics。

The suicide rate among rural residents in China dropped slightly in 2020, approaching 7.09 per 100,000 population. The country had one of the highest suicide rates in the world in the 1990s, especially among the rural female population. After decades of positive development, the rate reduced significantly. Family and economic matters, as well as mental health issues, are among the leading motives for committing suicide.

加蓬 GA: Suicide Mortality Rate: Male在2016达10.700 NA，相较于2015的11.100 NA有所下降。加蓬 GA: Suicide Mortality Rate: Male数据按每年更新，2000至2016期间平均值为10.500 NA，共5份观测结果。该数据的历史最高值出现于2015，达11.100 NA，而历史最低值则出现于2005，为9.200 NA。CEIC提供的加蓬 GA: Suicide Mortality Rate: Male数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于World Bank，数据归类于Global Database的加蓬 – Table GA.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics。

特立尼达和多巴哥 TT: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female在2016达4.500 NA，相较于2015的4.500 NA保持不变。特立尼达和多巴哥 TT: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female数据按每年更新，2000至2016期间平均值为5.400 NA，共5份观测结果。该数据的历史最高值出现于2000，达6.500 NA，而历史最低值则出现于2016，为4.500 NA。CEIC提供的特立尼达和多巴哥 TT: Suicide Mortality Rate: Female数据处于定期更新的状态，数据来源于World Bank，数据归类于Global Database的特立尼达和多巴哥 – Table TT.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics。

In 2023, over 21.8 thousand people in Japan died by suicide. The overall number of suicides had shown a steady downward trend over the past decade but began to rise again in 2020. The unexpected upward trend is likely to be connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 Why Japanese men are more likely to die by suicide 

When looking at suicide numbers by gender, Japanese men are more likely to commit suicide compared to women. What are the main reasons for this tendency? Attitudes on traditional gender roles in Japan may have shifted in recent decades, but social change has since been slow. Men are still expected to focus on their careers and provide for the family. Hence, economic slumps are typically reflected in rising suicide figures among men, as failure to fulfill social expectations can lead to mental health issues, which in turn might trigger suicidal thoughts. As an example, the suicide figures increased only for men in 2009 as a result of the global banking crisis. Suicide resulting from work-related issues is also more common among men than among women.

 The impact of COVID-19 on female suicides

The impact of the coronavirus appeared to be more prevalent among women. The reasons were complex. For one, women who were victims of domestic violence were forced to spend more time at home with their abuser. Additionally, industries hit the hardest by the pandemic were those staffed predominantly by women, such as the hospitality, retail, and caregiving sectors. Women also might have had to juggle working from home while being responsible for childcare during school closure. Furthermore, Japan is undergoing a demographic change and rapidly shifting into a solo society, which resulted in more single women supporting themselves. As irregular employment is more common among female than male workers, women supporting themselves were more likely to face precarious financial situations amid the pandemic. Overall, women in Japan seemed to have felt the negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic more severely and in more aspects of their daily lives compared to men.

Over 170 thousand deaths due to suicides were recorded in India in 2022. Furthermore, majority of suicides were reported in the state of Tamil Nadu, followed by Rajasthan. The number of suicides that year had increased from the previous year. Some of the causes for suicides in the country were due to professional problems, abuse, violence, family problems, financial loss, sense of isolation and mental disorders.

Depressive disorders and suicide

As of 2015, over 322.48 million people worldwide suffered from some kind of depressive disorder. Furthermore, over 14 percent of the total population in India suffer from different forms of mental disorders as of 2017. There exists a positive correlation between the number of suicide mortality rates and people with select mental disorders as opposed to those without.

Risk factors for mental disorders

Every seventh person in India suffers from some form of mental disorder. Today, depressive disorders are regarded as the leading contributor not only to disease burden and morbidity worldwide, but even suicide if not addressed. In 2022, the leading cause for suicide deaths in India was due to family problems. The second leading cause was due to illness. Some of the risk factors, relative to developing mental disorders including depressive and anxiety disorders, include bullying victimization, poverty, unemployment, childhood sexual abuse and intimate partner violence.