The number of deaths due to intentional self-harm, commonly referred to as suicide, has reached its highest point in 13 years, according to new figures released by Statistics Korea on September 25.

The annual "Statistics on Causes of Death 2024" report revealed that a total of 14,872 people lost their lives to suicide last year, up by 894 individuals—an increase of 6.4% compared to the previous year’s tally of 13,978. The suicide mortality rate, which represents the number of suicide deaths per 100,000 people, stood at 29.1, marking a rise of 1.8 people, or 6.6%, year-on-year. Broken down by gender, the suicide rate for men was 41.8 per 100,000, nearly 2.5 times higher than that for women, which was recorded at 16.6 per 100,000.

Suicide has emerged as the leading cause of death among people in their teens, 20s, 30s, and—for the first time on record—the 40s age group as well. Traditionally, cancer has been the leading cause of death for those age 40 and above, but this year marked a significant shift as suicide became the top cause of death even among individuals in their 40s. For those in their 50s and above, cancer remains the dominant cause of death.

Statistics Korea officials noted the significance of suicide becoming the primary cause of death for those in their 40s, describing it as a new and troubling trend.

In 2024, suicide accounted for 26.0% of all deaths within the 40s age group, surpassing cancer, which accounted for 24.5%. This is a reversal from 2023, when cancer represented 25.9% of deaths among people in their 40s and suicide accounted for 23.4%.

Other age brackets also witnessed an increase in the proportion of deaths attributed to suicide. Among teenagers, suicide made up 48.2% of all deaths in the past year, compared to 46.1% in 2023. For adults in their 30s, that figure rose from 40.2% to 44.4%.

Experts emphasize the need for targeted public health interventions and mental health resources to address the rising rates of suicide across age groups, especially among men and younger populations.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Yonhap News Agency