India recorded 153,052 suicides in 2020; higher than 2019
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As per the latest central government data, India recorded 153,052 deaths by suicide in 2020. This is an average of 418 suicides every day in 2020. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has noted that this is more than the 139,123 deaths by suicide recorded across the country in 2019. The suicide rate also went up from 10.4 in 2019 to 11.3 in 2020. The suicide rate is calculated as number per lakh population.
The most number of suicides were reported in Maharashtra(19,909), followed by Tamil Nadu(16,883), Madhya Pradesh(14,578), West Bengal(13,103), and Karnataka(12,259). The five states account for 50.1 per cent of the total suicides reported. The remaining 49.9 per cent of deaths by suicide were reported from the remaining 23 states and eight union territories together.
Uttar Pradesh, despite being the most populous state with 16.9 per cent of India's population, accounts for 3.1 per cent of the total number. Among UTs, Delhi, which is the most populous UT, recorded the highest number of suicides, followed by Puducherry.
Furthermore, the suicide rate in cities is 14.8, higher than the all India suicide rate of 11.3. Family problems, marriage related problems, and illness accounted for 56.7 per cent of suicides in the country. The overall male to female ratio of victims is 70.9 to 29.1.