Trend of Suicide in India: An Analysis of the Past Decades
Abstract: This study examines the trends in suicide in India over the past decades, focusing on suicide rates, sociodemographic factors, causes, and prevention strategies. Background: Suicide remains a major public health concern in India with substantial variation across demographic and socioeconomic groups. Long-term analysis of routinely collected national data is important for identifying changing patterns and vulnerable populations. Objective: To examine the temporal trends in reported suicides in India from 2014 to 2023 and to describe the distribution of suicide according to various sociodemographic characteristics and reported causes. Methods: A retrospective analysis of secondary data was conducted using suicide statistics obtained from the annual Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India reports 2014-2023 provided as open datasets in the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Annual suicide numbers and rates were examined alongside available demographic, socioeconomic and reported-cause characteristics using descriptive statistics. Results: The reported suicide rate declined from 10.6 per lakh population in 2014 to 9.9 in 2017, followed by a sustained increase, reaching 12.4 per lakh in 2022 before marginally declining to 12.3 in 2023. The absolute number of reported suicides increased from 131,666 in 2014 to 171,418 in 2023. Males consistently constituted the majority, increasing from 67.7% to 72.8% of reported suicides. Persons aged 18-30 and 30-45 years together accounted for approximately two-thirds of reported suicides. Family problems and illness remained prominent reported causes, while drug abuse/alcoholic addiction increased from 2.77% to 7.01% during the study period. Lower-income groups constituted the largest proportion of reported suicide deaths. Conclusion: Suicide in India demonstrated a changing temporal pattern with an increasing reported burden after 2017 and marked concentration among males and younger-to-middle-aged adults. Strengthening surveillance and implementing age-, gender- and socioeconomic-responsive prevention strategies are warranted.
Keywords: Suicide Trends in India, Suicide Rates, Sociodemographic Factors, Causes of Suicide, Suicide Prevention
How to Cite?: Jithesh N K, "Trend of Suicide in India: An Analysis of the Past Decades", Volume 15 Issue 10, October 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1005-1007, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR261015123720, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR261015123720