Unarguably, suicide occurs in every country in the world. The act affects many people, irrespective of their genders, religions, cultures, and classes. According to a recent study, men are more likely to end their lives than women. However, that’s not the case in South Korea, as it’s the only country with the highest suicide rate for women. Furthermore, the rate at which suicide happens differs from one country to another. According to the World Population Review, Lithuania sits on the first position on the list of top 10 countries with the highest suicide rates in the world. The northeastern European country has a total of 31.9 suicides per 100,000 people. This is followed by another eastern country, Russia, which has a total of 31 suicides per 100,000 people. That said, here’s the full list of top 10 countries with the highest suicide rates in the world.
List Of Top 10 Countries With The Highest Suicide Rates
1- Lithuania (31.9 Suicides Per 100k Population)
Lithuania currently sits on the first position on the list of top 10 countries with the highest suicide rates. That’s because the northeastern European country has a total of 31.9 suicide mortality rates per 100,000 population – the highest so far. Lithuania is no stranger to this ranking, as it has always topped it for the past few years. In 2017, the eastern European country had a total of 26.4 suicides per 100,000 people. Furthermore, according to studies, the high suicide rate in the country is mostly because of its social and financial problems.
2- Russian Federation (31 Suicides Per 100k Population)
Russian Federation sits on the second position on the list of top 10 countries with the highest suicide rates. The eastern country has a total of 31 suicide mortality rates per 100,000 population – which is a significant national social issue in the country. According to a study, heavy alcohol consumption and economic conditions are some of the factors that contribute to the country’s high rate.
3- Guyana (29.2 Suicides Per 100k Population)
Next on the list of top 10 countries with the highest suicide rates in the world is Guyana. The South American country has a total of 29.2 suicide rates per 100,000 people, which is a serious social issue. According to studies, several factors contributed to the country’s high rate. Some of them include poor governance, economic insecurity, and the rate of HIV/AIDS.
4- Republic of Korea (26.9 Suicides Per 100k Population)
The Republic of Korea has a total of 26.9 suicides per 100,000 people, making it the fourth on this list. According to a study, the high rate of suicide in the country is as a result of celebrity suicide. What that means is most times, when a superstar commits suicide in the country, many people react to it by also committing suicides.
5- Belarus (26.2 Suicides Per 100k Population)
Belarus is currently the fifth country with the highest suicide rates in the world. That’s because the eastern European country has 26.2 suicides per 100,000 people. Studies reveal that alcohol consumption is one of the major factors that contribute to the high rate in the country. Speaking of the common suicide methods, studies also show that about 80% of suicides are by hanging or jumping.
6- Suriname (22.8 Suicides Per 100k Population)
Sitting in the sixth position on the list of top 10 countries with the highest suicide rates in the world is Suriname. The country has a total of 22.8 suicide mortality rates for every 100,000 people counted in the country. According to a recent study by a Professor at the Anton de Kom University, there are several risk factors of suicides in the country. Some of them include alcohol abuse, access to pesticides, poverty, lack of job opportunities, domestic violence, and poor economic conditions.
7- Kazakhstan (22.5 Suicides Per 100k Population)
Suicides among young people and teenagers in Kazakhstan have been a big issue for some years now. According to a recent study, the country recently recorded about 22.5 suicides for every 100,000 people. While the exact cause of the high rate is uncertain, studies reveal that school bullying, falling standards of social behavior, loss of values, are some of the likely factors that cause it.
8- Ukraine (22.4 Suicides Per 100k Population)
With about 22.4 suicide rates per 100,000 people, Ukraine sits on the eighth position on the list of top 10 countries with the highest suicide rates in the world. As of 2012, before the Russia-Ukraine conflict started, suicide was considered the leading cause of death in the country’s army. And research reveals that long-lasting psychogenic disorders, as a result of difficulties with their lifestyle, are a major cause.
9- Latvia (21.2 Suicides Per 100k Population)
Latvia currently occupies the ninth position on this list, and that’s because of its suicide mortality rates of 21.2 per 100,000 people. Speaking of gender, studies show that men committed most of the suicides in the country, with about 37.6 deaths per 100,000 people. As for women, the country only recorded 7.3 suicides per 100,000 people, which is far lower than that of men.
10- Belgium (21.2 Suicides Per 100k Population)
Belgium sits on the last position on the list of top 10 countries with the highest suicide rates in the world. The country recently recorded a total of 21.3 suicide rates per 100,000 people. Furthermore, Belgium was able to legalize doctor-assisted suicide in the country since 2002. So, that’s also one of the factors that contributed to the high rate in the country.
