Child suicides in Japan remain at record high for second year running

Japan is confronting a persistent and tragic crisis, as official figures show the number of children dying by suicide remained at a record high for the second year in a row in 2025. This worrying trend persists even as the country's overall suicide rate continues to decline, highlighting a specific and severe mental health challenge among its youth.

Alarming Statistics Among Adolescents

Preliminary data from the Japanese government, reported by Kyodo News, shows 532 individuals under the age of 18 died by suicide last year, an increase of three from the previous year. This is the highest annual figure recorded since statistics were first compiled in 1980. The data reveals a stark concentration among adolescents, with senior high school students (352 deaths) and junior high school students (170 deaths) accounting for the vast majority of cases. Ten elementary school pupils were also among the victims. The demographic split was relatively even, with 277 females and 255 males. Authorities cite school-related pressures, health issues, and family problems as primary contributing factors.

A Contrast with Broader National Trends

The consistently high rate of child suicide presents a troubling counter-narrative to broader positive trends in Japan. The nation's total number of suicides in 2025 fell to 19,097, dropping below 20,000 for the first time. The overall suicide rate per 100,000 people also decreased to 15.4, a reduction of 1.0 from 2024. This progress underscores that the crisis is not society-wide but is acutely concentrated within the younger generation. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual number of child suicides has remained above 500, suggesting the social and psychological disruptions of that period may have had a deep and lasting impact on youth well-being that has yet to be remedied.

A National Concern Demanding Focused Intervention

Japan has long grappled with high suicide rates and has implemented national strategies that have contributed to the recent overall decline. However, the stubbornly high figures among children indicate these measures are insufficient to address the unique pressures faced by students in Japan's competitive educational environment and society. Experts often point to intense academic stress, bullying, social isolation, and mental health stigma as key drivers. The data for 2025 serves as a critical call for policymakers, educators, and health officials to develop and fund targeted, youth-specific intervention and support programs to reverse this tragic trend and protect the nation's youngest citizens.