Suicide rate in North Korea
North Korea: Suicide rate was 9.34 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
9.34 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
up 0.4%
World rank
69th
of 194 countries
All-time high
10.63 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2016
All-time low
8.15 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2005
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Suicide rate in North Korea, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for suicide rate in North Korea is 9.34 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of up 0.4% on the previous year and down 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, suicide rate in North Korea peaked at 10.63 deaths per 100,000 people in 2016 and was at its lowest, 8.15 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2005.
North Korea ranks 69th of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Suicide rate in North Korea, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 8.53 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 8.44 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 8.47 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.4% |
| 2003 | 8.29 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.1% |
| 2004 | 8.21 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 8.15 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 8.22 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 8.55 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 9.11 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 9.3 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 9.72 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 9.91 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 9.87 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 10.06 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.9% |
| 2014 | 10.19 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 10.6 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.0% |
| 2016 | 10.63 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 10.2 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.0% |
| 2018 | 9.82 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.7% |
| 2019 | 10.04 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.2% |
| 2020 | 9.3 deaths per 100,000 people | -7.4% |
| 2021 | 9.34 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.53 deaths per 100,000 people | 8.15 deaths per 100,000 people | 9.3 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.1 deaths per 100,000 people | 9.72 deaths per 100,000 people | 10.63 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.32 deaths per 100,000 people | 9.3 deaths per 100,000 people | 9.34 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 66 Romania 9.57 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 66 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 9.57 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 68 Canada 9.44 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 69 Togo 9.34 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 71 China 8.93 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 72 Bosnia and Herzegovina 8.72 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for North Korea
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2456 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.16 % change on previous year (2100)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 767 deaths (2100)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,462 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
- Age population, age 16, male, interpolated 166,971 (2025)
- Age population, age 18, female, interpolated 159,845 (2025)
- Age population, age 17, male, interpolated 168,398 (2025)
- Age population, age 17, female, interpolated 160,530 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is suicide rate in North Korea?
- Suicide rate in North Korea was 9.34 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest suicide rate recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 10.63 deaths per 100,000 people in 2016.
- What is the lowest suicide rate recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.15 deaths per 100,000 people in 2005.
- How does North Korea rank for suicide rate?
- North Korea ranks 69th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is suicide rate rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Suicide rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from self-harm in both sexes, per 100,000 people.