Türkiye Sees Record Suicide Rate in 2024 Despite Decline in Overall Deaths
Suicide Rates Rising in Turkey
According to new data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), Türkiye recorded its highest suicide rate since 2001, even as the total number of deaths across the country fell in 2024. While overall deaths dropped to 489,361, the number of suicides rose to 4,460, marking a record-high crude suicide rate of 5.22 per 100,000 people.
Suicide Rate Climbs as Death Rate Falls
The country’s crude death rate decreased from 6.2 per 1,000 people in 2023 to 5.7 in 2024. However, this positive trend was overshadowed by a troubling rise in self-inflicted deaths. The number of suicides increased by 371 cases in a year—from 4,089 in 2023 to 4,460 in 2024.
Heart Disease and Cancer Still Leading Causes of Death
Among all causes of death, circulatory system diseases remained the top contributor, accounting for 36% of all fatalities, with ischemic heart disease making up 43% of those cases. The highest rate of circulatory-related deaths was recorded in Çanakkale (50.7%). Cancers followed at 16.3%, led by tumors of the lungs, bronchi, and trachea, while respiratory system diseases ranked third at 15%.
Infant and Child Mortality Show Encouraging Decline
The number of infant deaths dropped to 8,475, and the infant mortality rate declined from 10.1 per 1,000 live births in 2023 to 9.0 in 2024. Similarly, the under-5 mortality rate improved from 14.7 to 11.1 per 1,000 births.
Economic Hardship a Growing Suicide Factor
When it comes to suicide causes, illness remained the most common reason at 25.2%, followed by economic hardship, which accounted for 9%. A total of 402 people died by suicide due to financial difficulties, 382 of whom were men, highlighting the gendered impact of economic pressure. In comparison, 1,123 suicides were linked to health issues.
Gender disparities were also apparent in the overall figures: 3,499 men and 961 women took their own lives in 2024. Among women, illness was again the leading factor (34%), while relationship and marital issues were cited in 2.3% of cases. Notably, only 2.1% of women who died by suicide did so due to economic reasons.
A Significant Number of Suicides Remain Unexplained
TÜİK noted that the reasons for 21.8% (972 cases) of suicides could not be determined. Additionally, 36.8% (1,642 cases) were categorized under “other causes”, a broad classification that includes unmeasurable personal or social issues.