The suicide rate in South Korea in 2023 has reached its highest level in nine years since 2014. Although the suicide rate ranks overwhelmingly first among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, life satisfaction remains among the lowest in the OECD.
According to the report 'Quality of Life of the People 2024' released by the Statistics Korea on the 24th, the life satisfaction in South Korea in 2023 stood at 6.4 out of 10 (Social Integration Survey), showing a slight decline compared to the previous year (6.5).
Life satisfaction increased from 5.7 in 2013 to 6.0 in 2017, maintaining similar figures thereafter, but recorded its highest level in nine years in 2022 at 6.5.
A Statistics Korea official noted, 'Although life satisfaction in South Korea has slightly decreased in 2023, it has shown an upward trend since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.'
Life satisfaction displayed distinct differences based on income levels. The satisfaction of low-income households earning less than 1 million won per month was 5.7, which is 0.8 points lower than the average. For households earning between 1 million and 2 million won, it was 6.1, between 2 million and 3 million won was 6.2, between 3 million and 4 million won was 6.4, between 4 million and 5 million won was 6.5, and over 5 million won was 6.6, indicating that life satisfaction increased with household income.
Meanwhile, the life satisfaction score recorded from 2021 to 2023 was 6.06, placing South Korea 33rd out of 38 OECD countries. Countries with lower life satisfaction scores than South Korea included Turkey (4.98), Colombia (5.7), Greece (5.93), Hungary (6.02), and Portugal (6.03). The OECD average during this period was 6.69, approximately 6.3 points higher than South Korea.
This statistics also reflected indicators that capture societal changes following COVID-19. In particular, the suicide rate has shown signs of worsening again after a recent improvement.
The suicide rate in 2023 was 27.3 per 100,000 population, an increase of 2.1 from the previous year. The suicide rate surged from 14.6 per 100,000 in 2001 to 24.8 in 2005, reaching its highest figure in 2011 at 31.7. Since then, it has shown a declining trend, but a slight increase has been observed again.
A Statistics Korea official explained, 'Overall, the suicide rate has increased compared to 2022, but the rate among both men and women aged 80 and over has decreased,' adding that 'the suicide rates for males aged 10 to 19 and females aged 20 to 29 have slightly decreased.'
South Korea's suicide rate is the highest among OECD countries. According to the international comparison data compiled by the OECD, South Korea's suicide rate in 2021 was 24.3 per 100,000, the highest recorded. Lithuania (18.5) and Japan (15.6) followed, but there was a significant gap compared to South Korea.
In contrast, life expectancy, which had decreased due to increased deaths from COVID-19 in 2022, rose again in 2023. Life expectancy in 2023 was 83.5 years, an increase of 0.8 years from the previous year. This ranks fifth among OECD countries.
Participation rates in social organizations (50.9% in 2022 to 58.2% in 2023) and employment rates (62.6% in 2023 to 62.7% in 2024) showed a sharp decline in 2020 due to COVID-19 but have shown recent improvements. The obesity rate (37.2 in 2022 and 37.2 in 2023) and interpersonal trust rate (54.6 in 2022 and 52.7 in 2023) have still not recovered to previous levels after worsening during the COVID-19 period.