Japan¡¯s suicide death toll fell below 20,000 for the first time on record last year, although elementary, junior high and high school student suicides climbed to a new high, according to government data released Thursday.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said that 19,097 people died by suicide in 2025, based on preliminary National Police Agency statistics, the lowest total since records began in 1978. Final figures will be released in March.
The overall number fell by 1,223 from the previous year¡¯s confirmed total, marking a third consecutive annual decline. Men accounted for 13,117 deaths and women for 5,980.
By age group, suicides fell across all categories except those under 20. People in their 50s accounted for the largest number of deaths, at 3,732, followed by those in their 40s, at 2,951. By gender, men in their 50s had the highest number of suicides, totaling 2,696 cases.
Students accounted for 1,074 deaths. Of those, 532 were elementary, junior high and high school students, up three from the previous year and the highest number since records began in 1980. The total included 10 elementary school students, 170 junior high school students and 352 high school students.
The ministry said suicides have been particularly common among high school students and junior high school girls. School-related issues were cited by 519 people as the reason for suicide, with academic difficulties the most common reason at 173, and worries about future life paths at 122.
Under amendments to the Basic Act on Suicide Countermeasures that will take effect in April, the government has pledged to strengthen measures to prevent child suicides, working with the Children and Families Agency and other bodies.
Across all age groups, health problems were the most frequently cited motive for suicide at 11,293 cases, followed by economic and livelihood issues at 5,359 cases and family-related problems at 4,198 cases.
Economic and livelihood-related deaths increased by 267 people from the previous year, with cases attributed to ¡°difficulty in everyday life¡± ¡ª believed to be linked to rising prices ¡ª increasing by 130, accounting for almost half of the increase.
By region, the number of suicides fell in 40 of Japan¡¯s 47 prefectures. Suicide rates were highest in Yamanashi Prefecture, at 21.4 per 100,000 people, followed by Niigata at 20.2 and Aomori at 19.6. The lowest rates were recorded in Tottori, at 10.7, Ishikawa at 12.5 and Kyoto at 12.7.
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