Number of suicides in Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea: Number of suicides was 14,254 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Number of suicides in Republic of Korea, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
Republic of Korea recorded 14,254 deaths for number of suicides in 2021.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and down 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of suicides in Republic of Korea peaked at 17,354 deaths in 2011 and was at its lowest, 7,003 deaths, in 2000.
Republic of Korea ranks 7th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Number of suicides in Republic of Korea, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7,003 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 7,548 deaths | +7.8% |
| 2002 | 9,205 deaths | +21.9% |
| 2003 | 11,772 deaths | +27.9% |
| 2004 | 12,441 deaths | +5.7% |
| 2005 | 13,137 deaths | +5.6% |
| 2006 | 11,686 deaths | -11.1% |
| 2007 | 13,232 deaths | +13.2% |
| 2008 | 14,110 deaths | +6.6% |
| 2009 | 16,979 deaths | +20.3% |
| 2010 | 16,955 deaths | -0.1% |
| 2011 | 17,354 deaths | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 15,325 deaths | -11.7% |
| 2013 | 15,577 deaths | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 14,803 deaths | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 14,377 deaths | -2.9% |
| 2016 | 13,875 deaths | -3.5% |
| 2017 | 13,178 deaths | -5.0% |
| 2018 | 14,601 deaths | +10.8% |
| 2019 | 14,721 deaths | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 14,070 deaths | -4.4% |
| 2021 | 14,254 deaths | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11,711 deaths | 7,003 deaths | 16,979 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 15,076 deaths | 13,178 deaths | 17,354 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 14,162 deaths | 14,070 deaths | 14,254 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near Republic of Korea
More health data for Republic of Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,072 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 69 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 4.27 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0191 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 5.24 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0155 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of suicides in Republic of Korea?
- Number of suicides in Republic of Korea was 14,254 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of suicides recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 17,354 deaths in 2011.
- What is the lowest number of suicides recorded in Republic of Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 7,003 deaths in 2000.
- How does Republic of Korea rank for number of suicides?
- Republic of Korea ranks 7th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is number of suicides rising or falling in Republic of Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Republic of Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of suicides. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated number of deaths from self-harm in both sexes.