Record 527 Schoolchildren Commit Suicide in Japan in 2024

According to recent data released by Japan’s Health and Welfare Ministry, a record 527 students from elementary and secondary schools took their own lives in 2024, Anadolu Agency reported. This figure represents an increase of 14 from the previous year and surpasses the prior record of 514 in 2022, as reported by Kyodo News.

Among the 527 students, 239 were boys and 288 were girls. The breakdown reveals that 349 were from senior high school (grades 10-12), 163 from junior high school (grades 7-9), and 15 from elementary school (grades 1-6). The ministry has labeled the situation as “serious” and emphasized the need for further investigation to understand the underlying causes.

In total, 20,268 individuals, including 13,763 men and 6,505 women, died by suicide in Japan in 2024, marking a decrease of 1,569 from 2023 and the second-lowest figure since 1978. Health-related issues were the primary cause of suicide, accounting for 11,986 cases, followed by economic and life challenges at 5,075 and family-related problems at 4,334, according to the media report.