Suicide rate in South Korea

The age-standardised suicide rate in South Korea was 23.4 per 100,000 people in 2023.

Suicide mortality rate (age-standardised) Deaths per 100,000 people Data: 2000 to 2023 Source: WHO

South Korea, 2023 23.4 Deaths per 100,000 people

Change from 2022 +1.0per 100,000 people 2022: 22.4 per 100,000 people

Median of OECD (38 countries), 2023 11.0 per 100,000 people Middle value of 38 countries

Position in 2023 8th of 185 See the full ranking

Suicide rate in South Korea over time

From

South Korea

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Deaths per 100,000 people. Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Gaps mean no published value; points are not joined across missing years.

Suicide mortality rate (age-standardised) (deaths per 100,000 people), 2000 to 2023
Period	South Korea
2023	23.4 per 100,000 people
2022	22.4 per 100,000 people
2021	23.5 per 100,000 people
2020	23.6 per 100,000 people
2019	25.1 per 100,000 people
2018	25.3 per 100,000 people
2017	23.4 per 100,000 people
2016	25.2 per 100,000 people
2015	26.7 per 100,000 people
2014	27.9 per 100,000 people
2013	30.7 per 100,000 people
2012	31.6 per 100,000 people
2011	36.6 per 100,000 people
2010	37.3 per 100,000 people
2009	38.3 per 100,000 people
2008	33.2 per 100,000 people
2007	32.3 per 100,000 people
2006	29.8 per 100,000 people
2005	33.9 per 100,000 people
2004	32.9 per 100,000 people
2003	31.4 per 100,000 people
2002	25.1 per 100,000 people
2001	21.1 per 100,000 people
2000	19.1 per 100,000 people

A dash means no value was published for that period.

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In short

That is a change of +1.0 from 22.4 per 100,000 people in 2022.
Since 2013, when it was 30.7 per 100,000 people, the figure has changed by −7.3.
Among the 185 countries with data for 2023, South Korea has the 8th highest value.

More for South Korea

All statistics for South Korea

Life expectancy estimates and projections 84.3 years 2023 · UN Population Division Life expectancy at 65, estimates and projections 21.3 years 2023 · UN Population Division Healthy life expectancy 72.0 years 2023 · WHO UHC service coverage 88 2023 · WHO Alcohol consumption 7.59 litres 2024 · WHO Adult obesity 8.4% 2024 · WHO

Source and dates

Original producer: WHO
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Dataset or series code: MH_12 · dataset details · view at source
Observation period: 2000 to 2023 for South Korea
Provider update: 15 October 2026
Retrieved: 9 November 2026
Published here: 9 November 2026
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (WHO datasets, with additional terms)
Attribution: Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory

How South Korea compares in 2023 Neighbouring positions among 185 countries with a value for 2023.

5 Gabon 26.3 per 100,000 people
6 Eritrea 25.8 per 100,000 people
7 Central African Republic 24.0 per 100,000 people
8 South Korea 23.4 per 100,000 people
9 Eswatini 23.0 per 100,000 people
10 Uruguay 22.2 per 100,000 people
11 Malawi 21.5 per 100,000 people

See all countries

South Korea by sex

Total 23.4 per 100,000 people2023
Women 13.6 per 100,000 people2023
Men 34.8 per 100,000 people2023

Each group's most recent published value. Open a group to see its trend.

What this measures

Deaths by suicide per 100,000 people in a year, age-standardised to the WHO standard population (SDG indicator 3.4.2). WHO estimate.

Suicide is under-reported in some countries because of stigma or how deaths are registered.

Full source details and dates

CSV for South Korea

The link always shows the latest published figures.