On 2 November 2021, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) published  the “White Paper on the Overview of  Suicide and Suicide Countermeasures and their Implementation Status in Japan in FY2020” (White Paper on Suicide Prevention 2021 version). The White Paper is an annual report submitted to the Diet every year as per Article 11 of the Basic Act for Suicide Prevention.

In 1998, the number of persons who committed suicide in Japan was 32,863; and ever since 1978 when statistics began, the highest recorded was 34,427 in 2003. Suicides then hovered around 32,000 to 33,000 until 2010. Since then, the number decreased for ten consecutive years. In 2020, however, the figure was at 21,081, an increase of 912 (4.5%) on the previous year. In addition, the number of males who committed suicide decreased for the 11th consecutive year, while the number of females increased for the first time in two years.

For more information, please visit the website below (Japanese). https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/hukushi_kaigo/seikatsuhogo/jisatsu/jisatsuhakusyo2021.html