By YUKI KAWANO/ Staff Writer
April 19, 2025 at 07:00 JST
The central government building that houses the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
A record number of pupils and students died by suicide in 2024 while the total number of suicides decreased to the second-lowest ever, according to the health ministry.
The number of suicides recorded in 2024 was 20,320, down 1,517 from the previous year and the second lowest since 1978, when statistics became available, according to the ministry report released on March 28.
However, the number of elementary, junior high and senior high school students who killed themselves increased by 16 to a record 529.
The total number of male suicides decreased for the first time in three years to 13,801, down 1,061 from 2023. The figure for women decreased for the second consecutive year to 6,519, down 456 from the previous year.
“Health problems” was the most common cause or motive cited for the suicide in 12,029 cases, followed by “economic and livelihood problems” and “family problems.”
While the overall number of suicides showed a downward trend, the number of women aged 19 or younger who killed themselves increased by 51, or about 13 percent, from the previous year by age group.
By occupation, only “students, pupils, etc.” increased.
Of the 529 pupils and students who took their own lives, 15 were elementary school pupils while junior high and senior high school students accounted for 163 and 351, respectively.
The number of male students who died by suicide decreased by 20 from the previous year while the number of female students increased by 36. In particular, the number of junior high school girls and senior high school girls increased by 19, or about 24 percent, and 19, or about 11 percent, respectively.
By month, the highest number of students, 59, died by suicide in September.
“School problems” were the most common cause cited for the deaths among elementary, junior high and senior high school students at 272 cases. “Health problems,” “family problems,” “unknown,” and “others” followed.
Among “school problems,” “academic failure” was the most common reason at 65 cases, followed by “discord with schoolmates” (other than bullying) with 60 cases and “worries about career path” (other than entrance examinations) at 51 cases.
“Problems with entrance exams” were blamed in 33 cases and “bullying” in nine cases.
Suicides in 2023 fall for 1st time in 2 years; child suicides still high
March 30, 2024
Record number of schoolchildren killed themselves in 2024
January 29, 2025
Record high 479 schoolchildren commit suicide in virus-hit 2020
February 16, 2021
Record 196,000 students cut class in FY2020 during COVID-19 crisis
October 14, 2021
Record number of students not attending school, survey shows
October 4, 2023
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