South Korea's Suicide Rate Is Highest Between Developed Countries

JAKARTA - South Korea's suicide rate is the highest among developed countries, with nearly 13,000 people committing suicide in 2022, according to recent data.

The country's death toll fell slightly in 2022, but still high among developed countries, according to a Yonhap News report, referring to data from the Korean statistical body (Korean Statistics).

Based on the data, as many as 24.1 out of every 100,000 people committed suicide in South Korea.

"The suicide is closely related to the quality of life of individuals. The suicide rate tends to increase along with drastic changes or social instability, representing structural characteristics of society and social unity," said Korean Statistics in its report reported by ANTARA from Anadolu, Friday, February 23.

The suicide rate in men is higher than for women.

South Korea also recorded a decrease in the number of new births despite spending about 200 billion US dollars (approximately IDR 3,123 trillion) over the past 16 years to boost population growth.

Last year, the World Economic Forum warned that if the current low birth rate continued, the country's population would be reduced by half of the current birth rate, by the end of the century.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol also warned in 2023 by stating his "time is running out" and urging authorities to work hard to deal with the problem of low birth rates.