Japan Sees Fewest-Ever Suicides in 2025

Tokyo, March 27 (Jiji Press)–The number of lives lost to suicide fell below 20,000 for the first time on record in Japan last year, a revised government report showed Friday. According to the report for 2025 compiled jointly by the health ministry and the National Police Agency, the total suicide figure dropped 1,132 from the previous year to 19,188, the lowest since 1978, when the statistics began. There were 13,176 male suicide cases, down 625, and 6,012 female cases, down 507. Much fewer middle-aged men took their own lives, helping bring the total down below the threshold, a ministry official said. Bucking the overall trend, however, suicides among elementary, junior high and high school students increased by nine to 538 cases, which involved 10 elementary, 172 junior high and 356 high school students. Of them, boys made up 258 and girls 280. Family affairs were cited as the leading cause for suicide by elementary school students, school problems by male junior high school students and mental health issues by female junior high school students. Mental ill health also proved to be the top reason for high schoolers to kill themselves regardless of sex, with depression, in particular, hitting more and more students. The report also pointed out that more people aged below 20 committed suicide while suicides decreased in most of other age groups. By occupation, cases involving students went up. Overall, health problems were the biggest reason, followed by financial and family matters. Compared with the preliminary data released in January, the total suicide figure was up 91. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]