China’s economy is on the decline, with society feeling particularly oppressed and a surge in suicide rates. According to reports from Chinese media, over 230,000 people in China committed suicide in the first half of 2024, with 80% of them attributed to debt. The latest case of suicide involved a couple from the post-80s generation.
NetEase News recently reported that the suicide rate in China has been skyrocketing since the outbreak of the pandemic, reaching its peak this year.
In 2023, the number of suicides in China was 260,000. The trend continued to rise in 2024, with over 230,000 suicides in the first half of the year. When converted into annual figures, the ratio is 10 per 32.9 thousand, a staggering 76.9% increase from the previous year, setting a record high in history.
The international average suicide rate is only 10 per 10,000, while China’s rate stands at 3.29 times the international average, far exceeding the global average.
It is reported that in the first half of 2024, over 230,000 people committed suicide in China, with 80% of them being due to debt, highlighting the urgent need for society to provide hope and support to those in despair.
An article from “Kunlun Strategy Network” indicated that according to analysts, the actual number of suicides is often 3 to 5 times higher than officially reported. If extrapolated, the actual number of suicides in China could exceed 900,000 annually, with an additional approximately 2.5 million attempted suicides per year.
Recently, a blogger from Henan, known as “Stylish Cake,” revealed another tragic case where a young couple overwhelmed by debt took their own lives silently at home, abruptly ending their young lives.
The blogger stated, “By the time the emergency medical services arrived, both of them showed no signs of life. On the table, there were identity cards and a farewell letter. The letter mentioned, ‘Affected by the economic conditions in recent years, our business failed, leaving us with a mountain of debt, causing all our ventures to close. Harassed daily by phone calls demanding payment, our credit ruined, every day was torment, devoid of any hope. We really couldn’t bear it any longer. By the time you read this letter, we would no longer be in this world.’ The letter concluded with expressions of hope for their child and apologies to their parents. These were the final words left by the couple.”
“Stylish Cake” believes that these young individuals felt they had no other options left.
Reflecting on the tragedy, he said, “I had run a restaurant for several years before, facing overwhelming debts with not a penny to spare. No matter how much we owe, there is hope as long as we are alive.”
TouTiao previously reported about a 48-year-old farmer worker from Henan who, diagnosed with a serious illness, couldn’t afford the 90,000 RMB surgery and tragically committed suicide by jumping off a building, leaving a note that expressed, “You’ve never been poor, so you wouldn’t understand.”
An article from the blogger “Tan Tan Investment Research” pointed out that Chinese people are afraid to spend money due to high medical costs, expensive education, and housing prices. All the money goes towards repaying mortgages, saving for children’s education, and leaving some for healthcare – who would dare to consume?
The article highlighted the unequal distribution of wealth in China, citing the “2023 China Wealth Report” released by Zhongjin on June 18, 2024, which stated that the top 7% of the wealthy in China owned 93% of the wealth, leaving only 7% for the remaining 93% of the population.
The piece concluded that Chinese people are genuinely anxious, with widespread concerns about the future and dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs.