Suicide Surpasses Cancer as Leading Cause of Death for Koreans in Their 40s, New data Reveals
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – In a startling first, suicide has become the number one cause of death for individuals in their 40s in South Korea, surpassing cancer for the first time in recorded statistics, according to data released today. This grim milestone underscores a growing crisis in mental health and economic pressures impacting middle-aged Koreans.
The shift marks a significant and concerning trend, with suicide accounting for 26.0% of deaths in the 40-to-49 age bracket in the last year, exceeding cancer’s 24.5%. This unprecedented statistic comes as overall deaths in South Korea reached a 13-year high of 358,569 – a 1.7% increase from the previous year – with an average of 980 deaths per day. The data, analyzed by the Population Trend Division, suggests a potential link between economic hardship and the rising suicide rate, though direct motivations remain tough to ascertain statistically.
Beyond the 40s, suicide is also the leading cause of death for teenagers and those in their 20s and 30s. The proportion of deaths by suicide rose across these age groups: from 46.1% to 48.2% for teens, 54% for those in their 20s, and from 40.2% to 44.4% for those in their 30s. While cancer remains the primary cause of death for those over 50,the increasing prevalence of suicide across younger demographics is fueling national concern.
South Korea already has the highest suicide rate among OECD member countries, at 26.2 per 100,000 people – 2.4 times the OECD average of 10.8. cancer remains the leading cause of death nationally, responsible for 24.8% of all fatalities, with a mortality rate of 174.3 per 100,000 people. Heart disease (9.4%), pneumonia (8.4%), cerebrovascular disease (6.9%), and suicide (4.1%) followed. Alzheimer’s disease also saw a notable rise, climbing five places to rank sixth as a cause of death.
The aging population is contributing to the overall increase in deaths, with those over 80 accounting for 54.1% of the total – a 15.3 percentage point increase over the last decade. Authorities are now focused on understanding the underlying factors driving the surge in suicides and implementing preventative measures to address this escalating public health issue.
