Top 10 Countries With the Highest Suicide Rate

Suicide has become a viable option for many depressed and frustrated people around the world as they look to “end it all” rather than keep living. People commit suicide for different reasons known to some people around them. On the other hand, some people look most unlikely to commit suicide since they seem to be leading happy lives. However, according to World Health Organization (WHO), one person commits suicide in every 40 seconds around the world.

In some countries, suicide is the leading cause of death and for some, it’s very rare. The most popular ways people commit suicide are Poisoning, hanging, and weapons. In this article, however, RNN will highlight the top 10 countries with the highest suicide rate according to world statistics.

10. Lesotho

We begin this list with Lesotho! According to World Health Organization (WHO), the South African country is the 10th country with the highest suicide rate in the world. The country reports 21.2 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants (both male and female).

As we progress in this article, you’ll find that most countries have more men committing suicide than women. For Lesotho however, the reverse is the case. Women commit suicide more than men in the country. WHO equally revealed that Lesotho does not have a legally recognized mental health policy in place. This, many believe, is a major reason for suicide in the country.

9. Latvia

This Baltic nation reports 21.2 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants. Men are most likely to die from suicide than women in the country. For Latvia however, there are difficulties in gathering and analyzing statistics for suicide. This is especially true for people living in rural areas.

The causes of suicide in the country ranges from a variety of things, from stress to even the most unthinkable things.

8. Ukraine

22.4 suicides are recorded per 100,000 persons in Ukraine for both the male and female gender. Again, men are more likely to die from suicide than women in the Eastern Europe country.

According to bscholarly, “The societal phenomenon is particularly concerning for veterans of conflict, who also appear to be more prone to violent actions in the home as a result of post-conflict stress.”

7. Belarus

Belarus records 26.2 deaths per 100,000 persons according to World Health Organization (WHO). The suicide rate among men in the country is higher than that of women. 46.9 fatalities were equally recorded per 100,000 persons in the country.

Studies have shown that alcoholism and a high level of despair are two major factors that lead to suicide in Belarus.

6. Kazakhstan

According to World Health Organization (WHO), Kazakhstan is the sixth on the list of countries with the highest suicide rate in the world. The Central Asian country records 22.5 death per 100,000 persons for both men and women.

The rate is suicide in Kazakhstan raises a lot of concern for many as it is reported to be more frequent on the part of the younger population than the older ones. Family and school issues are major causes of suicide for the younger population of Kazakhstan.

5. Suriname

Next on our list of countries with the highest suicide rate is Suriname. Suriname is a South American nation that reports 22.8 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants. Like many other countries on this list, men in Suriname have a likelihood of committing suicide than women, according to statistics from the country.

Per 100,000 persons, 34.7 deaths are recorded for men, compared to 10.9 per 100,000 for women. Causes of suicide in this country include domestic violence, poverty, and alcohol misuse.

4. South Korea

South Korea reports an average of 26.9 suicides for both men and women living in the country per 100,000 people. The East African country records suicide as a result of stress and this is rapidly impacting both adolescents and the aged.

South Korea has the fourth highest rate of suicide in the world. This is according to World Health Organization (WHO).

3. Russia

In Russia, drunkenness is another reason for suicide. According to statistics from World Health Organization, Russia had the second-highest suicide rate before it moved to third position.

31 suicides were reported for every 100,000 people living in Russia. Suicide occurs more frequently in men than in women ith a prevalence of 55.9 fatalities per 100,000 persons. Deadly weapons and drunkenness are two factors (among others) that aid suicide in the country.

2. Lithuania

Flag of Lithuania blowing in the wind. Full page Lithuanian flying flag. 3D illustration.

As of 2016, Lithuania had the highest rate of suicide in the world. Sadly, this does not come as a surprise as a result of the high levels of sorrow reported in the country. In Lithuania, 58.1 deaths are reported per 100,000 men and women.

In the country, suicide reports show that men are more likely to commit suicide than women. in 2017, the media reported 749 deaths by suicide in Lithuania.

1. Guyana

This South American country has the highest rate of suicide in the world. Guyana is home to about 740,000 people. The country’s suicide rate is four times higher than the global average.

The leading causes of suicide in the country include rural poverty, alcohol abuse, and free access to dangerous pesticides in the country. This has led to the self-inflicted deaths of over 44 out of 100,000 Guyanese every year.

Guyana is infamous for the ritual mass murder-suicide in which 909 people died in 1978, however, the current suicide rate has nothing to do with death cults.

Top 10 Countries With the Highest Rate of Suicide

Here are the top 10 countries with the highest rate of suicide as highlighted in this article.

1. Guyana
2. Lithuania
3. Russia
4. South Korea
5. Suriname
6. Kazakhstan
7. Belarus
8. Ukraine
9. Latvia
10. Lesotho