South Korea's suicide rate rose for the second consecutive year, reaching its highest level since 2011. Quality-of-life indicators showed widespread vulnerability, with approximately four in ten elderly citizens living in relative poverty.
According to the "Quality of Life 2025" report released by the National Data Agency on the 5th, the suicide rate in 2024 reached 29.1 per 100,000 population, up 1.8 from 27.3 the previous year. This marks the highest figure since 2011, when the rate stood at 31.7.
The suicide rate had declined from 25.7 in 2020 to 26.0 in 2021 and 25.2 in 2022, but began rising again from 2023.
A significant gender gap emerged. The male suicide rate jumped from 38.3 in 2023 to 41.8 in 2024, an increase of 3.5, pushing the rate back above 40. This is the highest level since 2011, when it reached 43.3. The female suicide rate, meanwhile, edged up just 0.1, from 16.5 to 16.6, remaining essentially flat.
By age group, middle-aged populations showed the largest increases. The suicide rate among those in their 40s rose by 4.7, the steepest increase, followed by those in their 50s at 4.0 and those in their 30s at 3.9. In contrast, rates declined among those in their 70s and those aged 80 and above.
The relative poverty rate in 2024 reached 15.3%, up 0.4 percentage points from 14.9% the previous year. This marks the first time the rate has exceeded 15% in four years, since 2020 when the real economy contracted due to COVID-19.
The relative poverty rate among those aged 66 and older was particularly high at 39.8%. This means nearly four in ten elderly citizens have incomes below half the median income level.
Indicators of social relationships also showed concerning trends. Social isolation, measured every two years, remained at 33.0% in 2025, unchanged from 2023, but still 5.3 percentage points higher than the pre-pandemic level of 27.7% in 2019. Social organization participation fell to 52.3% in 2024, down 5.9 percentage points from 58.2% the previous year.