40대 사망원인 1위가 ‘자살’…”경제주체의 고단한 ‘먹고사니즘 “Suicide is the leading cause of death for people in their 40s… The arduous struggle for survival among economic actors.”

40대 사망원인 1위가 ‘자살’…”경제주체의 고단한 ‘먹고사니즘

“Suicide is the leading cause of death for people in their 40s… The arduous struggle for survival among economic actors.”

지난해 자살 사망자 6.4% 늘어 2011년 이후 ‘최다’ 30·40·50대 순으로 자살자 늘어…70대 이상 고령만 감소.

25일 통계청이 발표한 ‘2024년 사망원인통계 결과’에 따르면 지난해 자살 사망자(1만4천872명)는 전년보다 6.4% 늘어 2011년 이후 최다를 기록했다.

인구 10만명당 자살률 (29.1명)도 전년보다 6.6% 올라 2011년 이후 가장 높았다.특히 40대에서 1983년 관련 통계 작성 이후 처음으로 자살이 사망원인 1위로 올라섰다.40대 사망원인에서 자살이 차지하는 비중은 지난해 26.0%로 암(24.5%)보다 많았다. 2023년에는 암이 25.9%로 자살(23.4%)을 소폭 앞섰는데, 순위가 뒤바뀌었다.”이하 생약

소스-연합신문 9/25/2025

“Suicide is the leading cause of death for people in their 40s… The arduous struggle for survival among economic actors.”

By Sung Seo-ho, Reporter
Published September 25, 2025, 4:18 PM
Suicide deaths increased by 6.4% last year, the highest since 2011Suicide rates increased among those in their 30s, 40s, and 50s… Only those aged 70 and older saw a decreaseAccording to the “2024 Mortality Statistics Results” released by Statistics Korea on the 25th, the number of suicide deaths last year (14,872) increased by 6.4% compared to the previous year, marking the highest number since 2011. The suicide rate per 100,000 people (29.1) also increased by 6.6% compared to the previous year, the highest since 2011.In particular, for the first time since relevant statistics were compiled in 1983, suicide became the leading cause of death for people in their 40s.The proportion of suicide among causes of death for those in their 40s was 26.0% last year, higher than cancer (24.5%). In 2023, cancer accounted for 25.9%, slightly higher than suicide (23.4%), but the ranking has now reversed.[Further details omitted]Source: Yonhap News, September 25, 2025