Suicide Rate in South Korea
South Korea: Suicide Rate was 27.53 in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
27.53
Change on year
up 1.4%
World rank
2nd
of 184 countries
All-time high
35.49
in 2011
All-time low
15.06
in 2000
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Suicide Rate in South Korea, 2000–2021
Source: International Monetary Fund.
Analysis
The most recent figure for suicide rate in South Korea is 27.53, measured in 2021.
The figure is up 1.4% on the previous year and down 22.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate in South Korea peaked at 35.49 in 2011 and was at its lowest, 15.06, in 2000.
South Korea ranks 2nd of 184 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Suicide Rate in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 15.06 | — |
| 2001 | 16.14 | +7.2% |
| 2002 | 19.56 | +21.2% |
| 2003 | 24.9 | +27.3% |
| 2004 | 26.21 | +5.3% |
| 2005 | 27.58 | +5.2% |
| 2006 | 24.45 | -11.3% |
| 2007 | 27.55 | +12.7% |
| 2008 | 29.29 | +6.3% |
| 2009 | 35.12 | +19.9% |
| 2010 | 34.92 | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 35.49 | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 31.01 | -12.6% |
| 2013 | 31.21 | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 29.35 | -6.0% |
| 2015 | 28.23 | -3.8% |
| 2016 | 27.06 | -4.1% |
| 2017 | 25.61 | -5.4% |
| 2018 | 28.28 | +10.4% |
| 2019 | 28.44 | +0.6% |
| 2020 | 27.16 | -4.5% |
| 2021 | 27.53 | +1.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 27.53 is above the median for high income countries, which is 10.19, 2.7× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 27.53 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8.61, 3.2× the median. (26 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 24.59 | 15.06 | 35.12 | 10 |
| 2010s | 29.96 | 25.61 | 35.49 | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.34 | 27.16 | 27.53 | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More gender data for South Korea
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 4,318 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -3.79 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 46,871 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 46,871 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.0957 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 119,025 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 125,732 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 116,471 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 122,813 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 119,098 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate in South Korea?
- Suicide rate in South Korea was 27.53 in 2021, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest suicide rate recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 35.49 in 2011.
- What is the lowest suicide rate recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.06 in 2000.
- How does South Korea rank for suicide rate?
- South Korea ranks 2nd out of 184 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Suicide Rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under IMF Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
About this data
Gender-disaggregated data on health outcomes.