Saturday, July 26, 2003 at 04:00 JST
TOKYO — The number of people committing suicide in Japan exceeded 30,000 for the fifth straight year in 2002, with suicides stemming from economic difficulties logging a record high, data compiled by the National Police Agency showed Thursday.
A total of 32,143 people killed themselves in 2002, 1,101 — or 3.5% — more than the year before, the annual police report said.
Of those, 7,940 Japanese took their lives because of economic difficulties — an increase of 16%. The previous high was in 2001, at 6,845. Job losses, corporate bankruptcies and mounting debts were among the causes.
Japan has one of the world's highest suicide rates, with the overall number topping 30,000 for the fifth straight year. Suicides peaked at 33,048 in 1999. (Wire reports)
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