The number of people who committed suicide in Japan in 2023 fell by 63 from the previous year to 21,818, the first drop in two years, according to preliminary government data reported by Japanese media.

According to the data of the Ministry of Health, based on the statistics of the National Police, there were 14,854 men out of the total number, which is 108 more, and 6,964 women, which is 171 less.

The suicide rate, or the number of suicides per 100,000 inhabitants, reached 17.5.

By age group, people aged 50 made up the largest group of suicides — 4,186, which is 93 years. The second largest group was people aged 40 years.

The number of student suicides decreased by 53 to 1,010.

Health problems were the leading cause of suicide in 2023, with 12,336 people taking their own lives from these causes, followed by suicides related to economic or life problems, which reached 5,157, an increase of 460.

The number of suicides motivated by problems at work reached 2,872.