Daily wage earners account for nearly one in three suicides in India
Adults between 18 and 45 years made up nearly 65 per cent of all deaths by suicide in 2024, with family problems being the leading cause.
India recorded 1,70,746 deaths by suicide in 2024, a rate of about 12 persons per lakh population. And about a third of those victims were daily wage earners.
Family-related issues other than marital problems remained the leading cause of suicides in 2024, accounting for nearly 34 per cent of all deaths. Factors like illness and addiction accounted for another quarter.
Heaviest burden on working adults
Deaths by suicide were largely concentrated among working-age people. Adults aged between 18 and 45 years accounted for nearly 65 per cent of deaths recorded in 2024, according to the National Crime Records Bureau’s report on Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India.
Daily wage earners accounted for more than 30 per cent of suicides nationally in 2024. In fact, the share of suicides among daily wage earners has risen from 17.8 per cent in 2015 to 30.9 per cent in 2024, nearly doubling over the decade.
Homemakers stood second with 13 per cent. Self-employed people, students, and people linked to the farming sector also constituted a significant share of deaths.
Five states, half of the burden
Maharashtra reported the highest number of deaths by suicide at 22,053, accounting for 13 per cent of India's total. Tamil Nadu followed with 19,834 (11.7 per cent), while Madhya Pradesh at nine per cent, West Bengal, and Karnataka both stood around eight per cent each. Together, these five states accounted for nearly half of all such deaths recorded in India in 2024.
India recorded 1,70,746 deaths by suicide in 2024, a rate of about 12 persons per lakh population. And about a third of those victims were daily wage earners.
Family-related issues other than marital problems remained the leading cause of suicides in 2024, accounting for nearly 34 per cent of all deaths. Factors like illness and addiction accounted for another quarter.
Heaviest burden on working adults
Deaths by suicide were largely concentrated among working-age people. Adults aged between 18 and 45 years accounted for nearly 65 per cent of deaths recorded in 2024, according to the National Crime Records Bureau’s report on Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India.
Daily wage earners accounted for more than 30 per cent of suicides nationally in 2024. In fact, the share of suicides among daily wage earners has risen from 17.8 per cent in 2015 to 30.9 per cent in 2024, nearly doubling over the decade.
Homemakers stood second with 13 per cent. Self-employed people, students, and people linked to the farming sector also constituted a significant share of deaths.
Five states, half of the burden
Maharashtra reported the highest number of deaths by suicide at 22,053, accounting for 13 per cent of India's total. Tamil Nadu followed with 19,834 (11.7 per cent), while Madhya Pradesh at nine per cent, West Bengal, and Karnataka both stood around eight per cent each. Together, these five states accounted for nearly half of all such deaths recorded in India in 2024.
