Comparison of age-standardized suicide rate and standard population composition in South Korea, 2005–2022

Background: South Korea has the highest suicide rate among the countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, with the highest rates found among older adults and adolescents. Calculating accurate suicide rates requires sophisticated estimates that consider population composition. This study aimed to report the age-standardized suicide rates of South Koreans between 2005 and 2022. Method: We calculated the age-standardized suicide rates in South Korea utilizing cause-of-death statistics data from the years 2000, 2010, 2015, 2018 and 2022 and the standard populations from 2000 and 2020. We reported the differences in suicide rates in South Koreans by age group and identified the trend from 2005-2022. Results: Suicide deaths in South Korea were notably high among those aged 40-49, 60-69, and ≥80 years in 2022, with a sharp rise in suicide rates for those aged ≥60 between 2005 and 2010. Age-standardized suicide rates based on the standard population in 2020 were higher than those based on the standard population in 2000, reflecting the larger proportion of older adults in more recent years. Although suicide rates decreased from 2005 to 2015, they slightly increased in 2022, especially among individuals aged 70 years and older. Conclusion: Current suicide rates in South Korea show a declining trend, with changes in age-specific rates reflecting shifts in population composition. Future studies should focus on age-standardized suicide rates, considering the impacts of low birth rates and an aging population. Keywords: Age-standardization, Cause of death, Population-composition, Suicide, Korea