Last year, the number of people who took their own lives in our country was the highest in 13 years since 2011. The number of men was more than twice that of women, and the highest percentage was among those in their 50s.
According to the Korea Life Respect Hope Foundation and the National Statistical Office on the 26th, the number of deaths due to 'intentional self-harm' from January to December last year was provisionally counted at 14,439. During the past year, about 40 people (39.5 people) took their own lives each day.
The number of suicide deaths last year increased by 461 (3.3%) compared to the previous year (13,978). This marks an increase for the second consecutive year, and it is the highest figure in 13 years since the peak of 15,906 in 2011.
The suicide rate, which means the number of suicides per 100,000 population, is estimated to be 28.3 (based on the 2024 registered population average). This is the highest figure in 11 years since 28.5 in 2013.
The number of suicides exceeded 15,000 for three consecutive years in 2009 (15,412), 2010 (15,566), and 2011 (15,906), but fell to the 14,000 range in 2012 and 2013.
Afterward, the number maintained in the 13,000 range before dropping below 13,000 in 2017 (12,463) and 2022 (12,906).
The suicide rate, which was below 30 from 2009 to 2011, decreased to 24.3 in 2017 and 25.2 in 2022, but rose again consecutively in 2023 and 2024.
Among last year's suicide deaths, there were 10,341 men and 4,098 women, with men being more than twice as many. The number of men increased by 6.1% compared to the previous year, while that of women decreased by 3.1%.
By age group, those in their 50s accounted for the largest share of total suicide deaths at 21.0%, followed by those in their 40s (19.0%), 60s (16.5%), and 30s (13.4%).
The increase rate compared to the previous year was highest among those in their 30s at 11.6%. The 40s and 50s increased by 9.0% and 8.4%, respectively, highlighting a notable rise in the suicide rates among the Administrator population.
Monthly, the increase in the number of suicides was particularly noticeable at the beginning of the year. The number of suicide deaths in January last year was counted at 1,338, a 32.9% increase from the previous year.
With the number of suicides and the suicide rate increasing for two consecutive years, the government is struggling to reverse this trend. The government had previously announced the mental health policy innovation plan in 2023, aiming to reduce the suicide rate to half of the 2022 level within ten years.
On the 11th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare held a meeting with all 17 provinces and cities regarding suicide prevention projects and provided guidance on focused support plans for high-risk groups, including suicide attempt survivors and bereaved families.
If you have difficulties such as depression that are hard to talk about, or if you know of family or acquaintances facing such challenges, you can receive 24-hour expert counseling through the suicide prevention counseling hotline ☎109 or the suicide prevention SNS counseling 'Madelain.'