For the first time since 1983, suicide has exceeded cancer as the main cause of death between the Koreans over 40 years, according to the statistics of the 2024 relationship of Korea. While suicide has traditionally been one of the main causes of death for those who are between 10 and 30 years, is now rapidly influencing the 40 -year -old group of core age. This move has contributed to the greatest number of suicide deaths in 13 years.
In 2024, the total number of deaths in South Korea reached 358,569, with an increase of 6,058 (1.7%) compared to the previous year. Men represented 191,738 deaths, while women represented 166,831. The average daily number of deaths was 980, growing 14 compared to the previous year.
Cancer remains the main cause overall
Cancer remains the main cause of death in general, which represents 24.8% of total deaths. The mortality rate from standardized cancer for age was 174.3 per 100,000 people, growing 4.5% compared to the previous year. Pulmonary carcinoma (38.0), liver carcinoma (20.4), colon -retto carcinoma (19.0), pancreas carcinoma (16.0) and stomach carcinoma (14.1) were the most common causes. In particular, the deaths for prostate, esophageal, pancreatic, uterine and breast cancer have increased compared to the previous year.
The suicide numbers increase for the second consecutive year
Suicide caused 14,872 lives in 2024, growing by 6.4% compared to the previous year, marking a maximum of 13 years. The suicide rate per 100,000 people reached 29.1, with men (41.8) who die from suicide 2.5 times the rate of women (16.6). Among the OECD countries, the standardized suicide rate of South Korea was 26.2, the highest worldwide compared to the OECD average of 10.8.
By age group, suicide is now the main cause of death between individuals in their 10, 20, 30 and 40 years, while cancer remains the main cause for 50 years and more. Between 40 years, suicide represented 26.0% of deaths, exceeding 24.5% cancer.
Experts note that while younger age groups can be influenced by social factors such as the suicides of high -profile celebrities (“Werther effect”), economic pressures and life stress factors can play a wider role for 40 years, demography in basic working age.
Sources: Nate News
