Top 10 Suicidal Countries in the World

A suicide occurs somewhere in the globe every 40 seconds, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). A few shockingly wealthy and highly developed countries score quite high in these sad figures, even though most of the high suicide rate nations are poor. Generally speaking, males commit suicide around three times more frequently than women.

Suicide affects people of all nationalities, ethnicities, religions, genders, and socioeconomic groups worldwide. Other intrinsic variables, such as mental illnesses and birth anomalies, might increase a person's tendency to suffer from depression. Countries must address widespread fundamental issues and collectively increase a person's propensity for suicide to reduce the incidence of suicide-related deaths. Other evaluation aspects include academic success, physical condition, mental health and well-being, economic position, financial difficulties, employment performance, and general life satisfaction. Depression rates are one factor that is of significant relevance.

The top 10 countries in the world for suicide are shown below:

1. Lesotho

Lesotho is a tiny, landlocked nation in South Africa surrounded to the north, east, and south by other nations. Due to its hilly landscape, it is referred to as "the Kingdom in the Sky," making it the ideal vacation spot for those who enjoy the outdoors. Lesotho is unusual in many ways than only its geography, however. The WHO has labeled the nation as a "suicidal country" due to its high suicide rate.

According to estimates, Lesotho has a suicide rate of up to 76 per 100,000 individuals, which is three times more than the global average. This is quite concerning because barely over 2 million people live there. Most suicides in Lesotho occur among young individuals between the ages of 15 & 24, with young boys having the greatest suicide rate. This is probably a consequence of the lack of economic prospects and youngsters' educational opportunities in the nation.

The Lesotho government has taken action in recent years to address the issue of suicide. Additionally, the government has improved the availability of mental health treatments and trained medical personnel in suicide prevention.

Despite these initiatives, Lesotho's high suicide rate continues to be a significant issue.

2. Guyana

A little country called Guyana is situated on South America's northern coast. Suriname, Brazil, and Venezuela are their neighbors. Guyana, despite its small size, has a very turbulent past. It has been plagued by instability, violence, corruption, & poverty for a very long time. As a result, some commentators have referred to it as a "suicidal country."

The nation has also suffered from significant poverty levels. According to the World Bank, Guyana has among the highest poverty rates in the world. This has been worsened by weak economic policies & a lack of government expenditure on the country's public services and infrastructure. Additionally, Guyana has a long history of widespread corruption. This has further hampered the nation's growth and made it challenging for the government to offer its citizens basic services.

Guyana has a high suicide rate due to the lack of political and economic stability. The World Health Organization ranks Guyana as having the second-highest suicide rate worldwide.

3. Eswatini

Southern Africa's Eswatini, previously Swaziland, is a small, landlocked nation. South Africa's northern, western, and southern borders are shared with Mozambique to the east.

Eswatini is the second-largest receiver of South African help after Lesotho. It is a small, impoverished nation that depends significantly on South Africa for its economic existence.

With an estimated 35.4 suicides per 100,000 individuals, Eswatini has the highest rate of suicide in the world, according to recent research. The country's complex core causes of suicide include social isolation, drug misuse, poverty, Aids, gender-based violence, and lack of access to psychological treatments. Eswatini is facing a terrible issue.

4. South Korea

Even though South Korea is among the most industrialized and developed nations in the world, it also has the highest suicide rates among wealthy nations. With a population of around 51.4 million, South Korea ranks as the 14th most populated nation in the world, according to the WHO.

On the other hand, South Korea has the world's highest suicide rate, with an average of 28.6 suicides per 100k people. This percentage, almost double the 11.4% world average, has been continuously increasing since 2011.

Many different and complicated factors contribute to South Korea's high suicide rate. Major contributing causes to the high suicide incidence include poor mental health, stress, & depression.

Additionally, South Korea has to concentrate on increasing employment and giving its people greater economic options. As a result of lessening poverty and inequality, there may be an improvement in mental health and a decline in suicide rates.

5. Kiribati

Kiribati is an island country in the Central Pacific. It is one of the most impoverished nations in the world, and its populace has struggled with extreme levels of inequality, unemployment, and poverty. The nation has succeeded in lowering poverty and raising the standard of living for its people despite its tiny size and limited resources. Unfortunately, the increasing suicide rate in Kiribati's populace has obscured this development.

According to the latest recent statistics, Kiribati's suicide rate was about 28.3 per 100k people.

The factors contributing to this high suicide rate are intricate and varied. One of the main contributing causes is poverty since financial struggle can cause stress and sadness, resulting in suicidal thoughts and actions. Other causes include social stigma, lack of mental health care availability, and fewer prospects for work and education. Being an isolated island country with little touch with the outside world, Kiribati may experience sentiments of isolation and hopelessness.

6. Micronesia

In the western Pacific Ocean, an archipelago of islands is known as Micronesia. Micronesia is regarded as one of the world's most remote regions because of its location and small population. Because of this isolation, there is a lot of poverty and insufficient access to social services like health care and education. In addition, the area lacks economic prospects, which contributes to high unemployment rates, particularly among young people. Crime, drug abuse, and public health problems like HIV/AIDS have increased.

Despite having a low crime rate, the world's highest suicide rate is found in Micronesia. The WHO estimates that 28.2 suicides per 100,000 persons occur in Micronesia.

7. Lithuania

Lithuania is a small country in Northern Europe that borders Latvia, Belarus, Poland, and the Russian province of Kaliningrad. Lithuania ranks among the highest rates of suicide in the world despite its tiny size and largely peaceful history.

For many years, especially since the early 2000s, Lithuania's suicide rate has been higher than the average for Europe. According to the most current data available, Lithuania had a suicide rate of 26.1 per 100k people.

8. Suriname

Suriname is a tiny South American nation surrounded by Guyana, Brazil, and French Guiana. It is situated on the continent's northern coast. It has a population of about 599,650 and is a culturally diversified country. Sadly, it also has one of the highest suicide rates worldwide.

Over the past ten years, suicide rates in Suriname have dramatically increased. Suriname is the fifth-most suicidal nation in the world, according to WHO, with a suicide rate of 25.4 per 100,000 people.

Although Suriname is a stunning country with a wonderful culture, the high suicide rate is a significant issue that requires attention.

9. Russia

Russia is among the most suicidal countries in the world. Russia has the highest suicide rate in the world, according to the WHO, with an average of 25.1 suicides per 100,000 people.

Due to the various military battles and civil wars in Russia, psychological stress significantly contributes to suicide. Alcoholism contributes to up to 75% of suicide cases in Russia, making it another significant risk factor for the disease.

Although the Russian government attempts, the suicide rate in the nation is still high.

10. South Africa

Unfortunately, South Africa is recognized as the world's most suicidal nation. According to estimates from the WHO, there are about 23..5 suicides per 100,000 people in South Africa.

In South Africa, unemployment and poverty are widespread, and many people lack access to essentials like food and shelter. Feelings of helplessness and despair may result from this, which is a significant risk factor for suicide.

The availability of mental health care is also a serious problem in South Africa. Many people lack access to the necessary care since mental health services are not generally available nationwide.

Overall, suicide rates in South Africa are alarmingly high.

The Conclusion

Various preventative actions must be implemented in the nations mentioned above to lower the rate of suicide cases. These include improving mental health awareness, offering support and counseling to persons suffering from depression or other mental health concerns, boosting access to mental health care, & providing help and resources to those experiencing suicidal thoughts. Furthermore, it is critical to create an open and accepting culture to decrease the stigma related to mental health concerns and suicide. Finally, governments must collaborate to secure appropriate funding for mental-health services & research.