Singapore, 18 July 2025 (Friday) – Singapore reported a total of 314 suicide deaths in 2024, marking a decrease of 2.5% compared to 2023 based on provisional data.

According to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), the final number of suicide deaths in Singapore for 2023 has been updated to 434. This reflects a 34.8% increase from the provisional figure of 322 reported.

(Numbers stated in this press release are based on provisional data.)

For 2024, the provisional number of suicide deaths currently stands at 314.

Other key findings from the report include:

• Suicide death rate is 5.91 per 100,000 Singaporean residents
• Amongst the 314 suicide deaths, 64.3% are male (202 deaths)
• The largest increase in suicide deaths is found among adults aged 30 to 39
• For the sixth consecutive year, suicide has persisted as the leading cause of death amongst youths aged 10 to 29

“We are determined to keep striving to reduce the number of suicides. Each data represents an individual and a family struggling with a tragedy. We will continue to do our best working with our volunteers and partners, collaborate and equip them to serve individuals and families who are trying to cope with a crisis. We are grateful to all who step forward to help and hope to encourage more to join us.” said Dr Janil Puthucheary, Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) Patron, Senior Minister of State of Sustainability and the Environment, and Ministry of Education.

Chief Executive Officer of SOS, Mr Gasper Tan, commented, “Behind every statistic is a life lost, families grieving, and communities left wondering what more could be done. The number of suicide deaths reported is a reminder that our work is far from over, especially among adults aged 30 to 39. We must continue to invest in building a compassionate and connected society where no one has to struggle alone.”

While suicide has persisted as the leading cause of death amongst youths aged 10 to 29, suicide deaths among adults aged 30 to 39 has increased in 2024. The complex pressures faced by individuals in this life stage are observed to be related to family problems, job stability, and mental health challenges, through the services users who have reached out to SOS via the 24-hour Hotline and 24-hour CareText services.

As part of the organisation’s continuous upstream efforts, the Be A Samaritan (BAS)* has trained more than 6,000 individuals, with more than 90% who have reported increased literacy and confidence in responding to conversations around suicide. In hopes of widening the safety nets for youths aged 13 to 16, SOS has developed BAS Junior that is focused on age-appropriate case scenarios for peers to detect signs of distress and encourage early help-seeking. SOS continues to develop training programmes that are contextualised to meet the evolving mental health needs of specific population groups.

In 2024, beyond suicide prevention efforts, SOS provided in-person counselling services and support groups to 1,112 individuals who are struggling with suicide thoughts or attempts, as well as those who have lost loved ones to suicide.

[NOTE: Breakdown of Annual Suicide Rates based on ICA’s “Report on Registration of Births and Deaths 2024”. Figures for 2024 are provisional. The finalised figures are to be published only in the following year’s report.]

 

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About SOS

Samaritans of Singapore Limited (SOS) is a secular, non-profit suicide prevention centre. Since its establishment in 1969, SOS has developed into a professionally run and managed organisation. It adopts a holistic approach to suicide-related topics, focusing on prevention, intervention and postvention, an intervention conducted after a suicide for loved ones and friends. With the mission to be an available lifeline to anyone in crisis, SOS offers emotional support to people in crisis, thinking of suicide, or affected by suicide. All information shared with SOS is treated as confidential and people can choose to remain anonymous.

24-hour Hotline: 1767

24-hour CareText: 9151 1767 (via WhatsApp)