Suicides in Kazakhstan Rise Again After Two Years of Decline
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The number of suicides in Kazakhstan has started rising again after two years of decline, Orda.kz reports, citing Energyprom.
In the first quarter of 2026 alone, 711 suicides were recorded in the country. That was 15 more than in the same period last year, an alarming signal after two years of falling numbers.
Of the total, 575 were men, up 0.3%, 136 were women, up 10.6%, and 52 were minors, up 4%.
The highest numbers of suicides were recorded in the Turkestan region with 77, the Almaty region with 59, and Almaty city with 57. The sharpest increase was seen in the Turkestan region, where the number rose by 13 cases. Significant increases were also recorded in Shymkent, up by 11, and in the Kostanay, Atyrau and Kyzylorda regions, up by eight each. At the same time, the number of suicide attempts fell from 881 to 591.
However, the number of suicides directly depends on population size. A more accurate picture is provided by the mortality rate per 100,000 people. At the end of 2025, the national average was 6.78.the publication said.
The worst situation was recorded in the north. In the North Kazakhstan region, the suicide mortality rate reached 14.86 per 100,000 people, more than twice the national average. It was followed by the Akmola region at 14.59, the Karaganda region at 13.07, the Kostanay region at 11.29, and the Ulytau region at 10.45. The lowest figures were recorded in the Mangystau region at 0.86, the Abay region at 1.17, and Shymkent at 1.57.
A sharp increase was recorded in Almaty, where the mortality rate rose from 1.73 to 5.43. The rate also increased in the West Kazakhstan region, from 5.47 to 7.9, the East Kazakhstan region, from 6.75 to 8.04, the Zhambyl region, from 8.02 to 9.02, the Kyzylorda region, from 5.57 to 6.26, and the Zhetysu region, from 3.3 to 3.91.
People in rural areas die by suicide more often than those in cities, although the gap is narrowing. In rural areas, the rate was 8.15, while in urban areas it was 5.99. At the same time, the rate fell in villages, where it had been 9.72, and rose in cities, where it had been 5.72.
The highest rates were recorded among working-age adults. In the 30-34 age group, the figure was 5.1, and in the 35-39 age group it was 5.38. An unexpectedly high rate was also recorded among people aged 80-84, at 6.51. Even among children aged 5-9, the rate was not zero at 0.28, and this was the only age group in which mortality increased over the year.
Original author: Ruslan Loginov
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