Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
182,469 studies31 sourcesUpdated just now
Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Public Health

Suicide mortality in Kazakhstan from 2012 to 2024: temporal trends, demographic inequalities, and regional variation

  • Alibek Kossumov1
  • Tolkyn Zhakupova2,3,4
  • Nazgul Imambayeva3
  • Tatyana Polyakova4
  • Gulshat Dalibayeva5
  • Bagyzhan Syzdykova6
  • Artur Kovenskiy1
  • Aidana Rakhmankulova1,7
  • Elizaveta Vinogradova1,8
  • Sundetgali Kalmakhanov5,9
  • Samat Kozhakhmetov1
  • Almagul Kushugulova1,10
10 affiliations
  1. 1Laboratory of Microbiome, Center for Life Sciences, National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University
  2. 2Department of Forensic Medicine and Fundamentals of Law, NJSC, Astana Medical University
  3. 3Center for Forensic Examinations of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan
  4. 4Research Institute of Forensic Examinations of the State Enterprise, Center for Forensic Examinations of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan
  5. 5Department of Public Health, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU)
  6. 6Multidisciplinary City Hospital No. 1
  7. 7Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University
  8. 8Interdisciplinary Sports Research, Center for Genetics and Life Sciences, Sirius University of Science and Technology
  9. 9Faculty of Medicine and Health, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU)
  10. 10Department of Normal Physiology, First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University)
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Introduction: Despite some recent declines, suicides remain a major public health issue in Kazakhstan, with rates persistently above global benchmarks. This study provides the first integrated characterization of temporal trends, demographic characteristics, and regional distribution of suicide mortality in Kazakhstan.

Materials and methods: This epidemiological analysis examined suicide mortality data over a 13-year period (2012–2024). Data were provided by the Republican State Enterprise “Forensic Examination Center of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan” and the State Institution “Committee on Legal Statistics and Special Records of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Results: Between 2012 and 2024, 46,546 suicides were registered in Kazakhstan. Absolute suicides decreased by 15.8% despite 19.3% population growth. By 2023–2024, SR = 17.8 (ASSR = 18.2) – more than 65% above the WHO global average. The male-to-female ratio was 3.8:1 (ASSRs: men 29.9, women 7.4). Among men, peaks occurred at 25–29 (SR = 38.6) and 45–54 (SR = 49.9); among women, the first peak was at 18–24 (SR = 10.6). Regional SRs ranged from 11.0 to 29.2 per 100,000. The aging index was the strongest demographic ecological correlate of regional SR ( r = 0.84, p ≤ 0.0001). Annual sunshine duration showed a significant inverse association with SR ( β = −0.814, 95% CI [−1.221; −0.407], p = 0.001) in the regional regression model, while average salary was not significant.

Conclusion: Regional demographic restructuring – particularly population aging concentrated in northern regions – is the primary structural correlate of regional suicide variability. Annual sunshine duration emerged as a significant ecological correlate in the regression model specifically testing environmental and economic factors. These findings provide an evidence base for targeted, region- and population-specific prevention measures.

Related

  1. Temporal trends and geographical inequalities in congenital anomaly mortality in China, 2008–2021: a population-based surveillance study
    Mingliang Tai, Zihao Bai, Sizhe Lu +4
    BMC Public HealthPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Surgery & anaesthesiaCrossref
  2. Temporal trends and socio-demographic disparities in COPD–lung cancer co-occurrence mortality in the United States: a 22 year analysis (1999–2020)
    Abdullah Nadeem, Syed Muhammad Asjad Rizvi, Areeba Aamir Ali Basaria +6
    Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical OncologyPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Full textGeneral medicinePMC
  3. Regional and socioeconomic inequalities and factors associated with low birth weight in Ghana: a multilevel analysis of the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey
    Samuel Antwi, Mabel Pokua Amoako-Boateng, John Kuumuori Ganle +7
    Frontiers in pediatricsPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
  4. Short-term effects of ambient PM₂.₅ exposure on cardiovascular mortality in Almaty, Kazakhstan
    Gulnara Kulkayeva, Gulnara Kapanova, Maksat Mamyrkul +2
    Frontiers in Public HealthPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textPharmacology & toxicologyCrossrefDOAJ
  5. Temporal Trends and Demographic Disparities in Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Utilization in the United States, 2016-2022
    B. Shaun, M. R. Movahed, M. Hashemzadeh +1
    medRxivPreprintAll rights reservedFull textCardiovascular medicinemedRxiv

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{kossumov2026suicide,
  title = {{Suicide mortality in Kazakhstan from 2012 to 2024: temporal trends, demographic inequalities, and regional variation}},
  author = {Alibek Kossumov and Tolkyn Zhakupova and Nazgul Imambayeva and Tatyana Polyakova and Gulshat Dalibayeva and Bagyzhan Syzdykova and Artur Kovenskiy and Aidana Rakhmankulova and Elizaveta Vinogradova and Sundetgali Kalmakhanov and Samat Kozhakhmetov and Almagul Kushugulova},
  journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1972530},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1972530/full},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Suicide mortality in Kazakhstan from 2012 to 2024: temporal trends, demographic inequalities, and regional variation
AU  - Alibek Kossumov
AU  - Tolkyn Zhakupova
AU  - Nazgul Imambayeva
AU  - Tatyana Polyakova
AU  - Gulshat Dalibayeva
AU  - Bagyzhan Syzdykova
AU  - Artur Kovenskiy
AU  - Aidana Rakhmankulova
AU  - Elizaveta Vinogradova
AU  - Sundetgali Kalmakhanov
AU  - Samat Kozhakhmetov
AU  - Almagul Kushugulova
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/13
JO  - Frontiers in Public Health
DO  - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1972530
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1972530/full
AB  - Introduction: Despite some recent declines, suicides remain a major public health issue in Kazakhstan, with rates persistently above global benchmarks. This study provides the first integrated characterization of temporal trends, demographic characteristics, and regional distribution of suicide mortality in Kazakhstan.  Materials and methods: This epidemiological analysis examined suicide mortality data over a 13-year period (2012–2024). Data were provided by the Republican State Enterprise “Forensic Examination Center of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan” and the State Institution “Committee on Legal Statistics and Special Records of the Prosecutor General’s Office.  Results: Between 2012 and 2024, 46,546 suicides were registered in Kazakhstan. Absolute suicides decreased by 15.8% despite 19.3% population growth. By 2023–2024, SR = 17.8 (ASSR = 18.2) – more than 65% above the WHO global average. The male-to-female ratio was 3.8:1 (ASSRs: men 29.9, women 7.4). Among men, peaks occurred at 25–29 (SR = 38.6) and 45–54 (SR = 49.9); among women, the first peak was at 18–24 (SR = 10.6). Regional SRs ranged from 11.0 to 29.2 per 100,000. The aging index was the strongest demographic ecological correlate of regional SR ( r = 0.84, p ≤ 0.0001). Annual sunshine duration showed a significant inverse association with SR ( β = −0.814, 95% CI [−1.221; −0.407], p = 0.001) in the regional regression model, while average salary was not significant.  Conclusion: Regional demographic restructuring – particularly population aging concentrated in northern regions – is the primary structural correlate of regional suicide variability. Annual sunshine duration emerged as a significant ecological correlate in the regression model specifically testing environmental and economic factors. These findings provide an evidence base for targeted, region- and population-specific prevention measures.
SN  - 2296-2565
ER  -