The research, based on World Health Organisation (WHO) data from 102 countries, shows that the average suicide rate decreased from 10.33 per 100,000 people in 1990 to 7.24 in 2021, representing a 29.9% drop.
The decline was steeper in high-income countries, where cases fell by 32.1%, compared to 27.3% in low- and middle-income nations. The study was conducted by Soeun Kim and Selin Woo from the Department of Medicine at Kyung Hee University in Seoul.
The authors cautioned that differences in how suicide is defined and reported across countries could influence the reliability of statistics.
In Europe, they noted, several factors contributed to the downward trend, including responsible media reporting and initiatives aimed at strengthening the social and emotional skills of young people.
Expanded access to psychiatric and psychosocial care, a reduction in stigma surrounding mental health, and the implementation of prevention programs were also identified as major drivers of progress.
Income disparities in suicide rates
In 1990, high-income countries recorded a relatively high suicide rate of 12.68 per 100,000 people. By 2021, this had dropped to 8.61. In low- and middle-income countries, the rate fell from 7.88 to 5.73 over the same period.
Despite the overall decline, the study highlighted persistent underreporting in some countries, often linked to stigma, religious prohibitions, or the criminalisation of suicide. Conversely, increases were observed in developing countries undergoing rapid urbanisation.
Looking to the future, researchers project that the global suicide rate could decrease further to around 6.49 per 100,000 people by 2050. However, they warned that certain population groups and regions are still at high risk and require targeted interventions.
Rania Umutoni
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/global-suicide-rate-has-fallen-nearly-30-since-1990-study-finds
