2. Suicidologi 2002, Ă„rg. 7, nr. 2
an overall rate below the average), some Absolute numbers of suicide globally speaking. Currently, more sui-
of its former republics (particularly those In spite of the wide (and appropriate) cides (55%) are committed by people
with the highest rates in the world) started use of rates, the information conveyed aged 5â44 years than by people aged 45
to report individually, thus inflating the by them alone can be misleading, partic- years and older (Figure 3). Also, the age
global rate. On the other hand, figures for ularly when comparing data across coun- group in which most suicides are currently
1950 were based on 11 countries only, tries or regions with important differences completed is 35â44 years for both men
and this gradually increased up to 1995, in the demographic structure. As indicated and women.
when the estimates were based on 62 earlier, the highest suicide rates are
countries that reported on suicide. These currently reported in Eastern Europe; Figure 3. Changes in the age
62 countries as a whole probably have however, the largest numbers of suicides distribution of cases of suicide
higher rates, they are more concerned are found in Asia. between 1950 and 1998.
with them and they have a higher ten- Given the size of their population, al-
dency to report on suicide mortality than most 30% of all cases of suicide worldwide
countries where suicide is not perceived are committed in China and India alone, 1950
60% 40%
although the suicide rate of China practi- (11 countries)
as a major public health problem.
cally coincides with the global average
Figure 1 also highlights the relatively and that of India is almost half of the
constant predominance of suicide rates in global suicide rate. The number of suicides
males over suicide rates in females: 3.2:1 in China alone is 30% greater than the
in 1950, 3.6:1 in 1995 and 3.9:1 in 2020. total number of suicides in the whole of
1998
45% 55%
There is only one exception (China), where Europe, and the number of suicides in (50 countries)
suicide rates in females are consistently India alone (the second highest) is equiva-
higher than suicide rates in males, particu- lent to those in the four European coun-
larly in rural areas (Phillips and Zhang, tries with the highest number of suicides 5â44 years 45 + years
2002). together (Russia, Germany, France and
As for age, there is a clear tendency for Ukraine).
Given the relatively narrow differences This âungreyingâ of suicide is a relatively
suicide rates to increase with age (Figure
in the population of males and females new phenomenon. It becomes dramatic
2). Against a global suicide rate of 26.9 in each age group, the large predominance when one considers that the proportion
deaths per 100,000 for men in 1998, the of suicide rates among males is also found of the elderly in the total population is
rates for specific age groups start at 1.2 in relation to the actual number of suicides increasing at a greater rate than the one
(in the age group 5â14 years) and gradu- committed. of younger people. Also, it is not the re-
ally increase up to 55.7 (in the age group It is in relation to age, however, that sult of a divergent modification in suicide
over 75 years). The same positive relati- the most striking changes in the picture rates in these age groups: the suicide rate
onship between age and suicide rates is are perceived when we move from rates in young people is increasing at a greater
observed in relation to suicide rates in to total numbers. Although suicide rates pace than it is in the elderly.
females: for an overall rate of 8.2 in 1998, can be between six and eight times higher
specific age group rates grow from 0.5 per among the elderly, as compared with young Suicide and cultural factors: the
100,000 (in the age group 5â14 years) to people, currently more young people than case of religious denomination
18.8 (in the age group over 75 years). elderly people are dying from suicide, A comparison of suicide rates according
Figure 2. Distribution of suicide rates (per 100,000) by gender and age, 1998. to the prevalent religious denomination
in countries brings to light a most remar-
60 kable difference between countries of Islam
and countries of any other prevailing
50 religion (Figure 4). In Muslim countries
Males (e.g. Kuwait), where committing suicide
40
is most strictly forbidden, the total suicide
R A T E
30 rate is close to zero (0.1 per 100,000
population). In Hindu (e.g. India) and
20 Females Christian countries (e.g. Italy), the total
suicide rate is around 10 per 100,000
10 (Hindu: 9.6; Christian: 11.2). In Buddhist
countries (e.g. Japan), the total suicide
0 rate is distinctly higher at 17.9 per
5â14 15â24 25â34 35â44 45â54 55â64 65â74 75+ 100,000 population. At 25.6, the total
Males 1.2 19.2 28.3 34.7 39.7 41.0 41.5 55.7 suicide rate is markedly highest in Atheist
Females 0.5 5.6 7.7 8.4 10.5 11.8 14.1 18.8 countries (e.g. China) which included
A G E G R O U P in this analysis countries where religious
A global perspective in the epidemiology of suicide 7