According to the 2024 Statistics on Causes of Death released by Statistics Korea, cancer, heart disease, and pneumonia are the top three causes of death nationwide, accounting for 42.6% of all deaths. The report highlighted that among the 17 provinces and major cities in Korea, Busan has the highest mortality rate from heart disease. The mortality rate from cancer is also noteworthy, with South Gyeongsang Province having the highest rate and Busan ranking third. Moreover, deaths caused by diabetes are most prevalent in Ulsan, with Busan coming in second.
The number of deaths nationwide increased to 358,569 last year, up by 6,058 from the previous year. The suicide rate increased, with 29.1 deaths per 100,000 people, a rise of 1.8 compared to the previous year. The age-standardized death rate, which adjusts for age structure differences across regions, was 294.56 nationwide. However, Jeonnam had the highest rate at 333.7, with Busan also ranking considerably higher than the national average at 318.7.
In terms of specific causes of death, the mortality rate from cancer in Busan was 85.9 per 100,000 people, ranking third after South Gyeongsang (88.8) and Gangwon (86.6). Busan showed particularly high mortality rates for stomach, colorectal, liver, and lung cancers. For heart disease, Busan had the highest mortality rate at 35.6, significantly above the national average of 25.2. Additionally, Busan’s mortality rate from cerebrovascular diseases was 22.4, the second highest after North Chungcheong (22.7).
While the mortality rate from transport accidents (3.4) in Busan was below the national average, the rate from intentional self-harm (25.6) was notably higher than the national average. These statistics indicate a need for more detailed public health management in Busan.