Record Rise in Youth Suicides in Japan

Japan recorded a historic increase in suicide cases among children and teenagers last year, despite an overall decline in the national suicide rate, according to data released by the government.

Figures from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare show that 532 children and adolescents took their own lives in 2025, the highest number since this age group was first included in official statistics in 1980.

The data indicate that 10 cases involved primary school pupils aged six to 12, a decrease of five from the previous year. Suicides among junior high school students aged 13 to 16 rose to 170 cases, an increase of seven compared with 2024. The highest number was recorded among senior high school students aged 17 to 19, with 352 cases, up by one year on year. Of the total, 255 were boys and 277 were girls.

In contrast, the overall number of suicides across Japan fell to 19,097 in 2025, marking the lowest level on record and the first time since 1978 that the total dropped below 20,000. The figure represents a decrease of 1,223 cases, or about 6 percent, compared with 2024.

The contrasting trends have renewed concern among policymakers and mental health experts about the pressures facing young people in Japan, even as broader suicide prevention efforts appear to be having an impact on the wider population.