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I'm surprised that nobody pointed out that the country with the largest number of muslim/islam population Indonesia consistently has the least number of percentage for suicide rate. This is quite telling from a stark contrast between the suicide percentage rate of East and West Papua New Guinea even though they belong to the same physical island.

At the other extreme, the country with the least religious affiliation such as South Korea and Japan are consistently on the higher end of the suicide percentage rate.

In most of religions and especially Islam the suicide is a taboo subject, and it's believed that anyone who committed suicide will go straight to hell. This belief probably explains some aspects of the suicide distribution as it is.

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That's a pretty convincing hypothesis. If I may postulate an alternative one, it is that alternative ways of 'suicide' exist for someone who wishes to end their life, perhaps 'accidents'.

The reason for my scepticism is that India has a bunch of "cooking fire accidents" that coincide with dowry non-payment. Of course, retaliation for dowry non-payment is illegal in India. It is mere accident that kills people whose family has not paid a dowry.

Indonesia is not India, true. It is culturally very different, but my general prior if something is culturally taboo and is therefore rare is not high that it is truly rare but high that it has been renamed. For instance, Iranian homosexuality. There aren't any homosexuals there.

> will go straight to hell. This belief probably explains some

That's the negative side, yes. But don't discount the equally if not more powerful positive side: Things like believing there is a greater purpose to your existence, are incredibly powerful and helpful. (i.e. "I'm in pain, but there's a reason I'm here, let me try to accomplish it.")

And that's not even touching on the far greater community support among religious people. Having a horrible day and need someone to xyz. You can talk to someone you have never met before, but who shares your beliefs, and they will most likely go out of their way to help you with it (or at least they'll help you find someone else who can do it).

> That's the negative side

Negative only if we're presumptuous enough to think we know better to call it that. Otherwise, your remaining points generally hold.

Qatar is listed with the second-highest rate of suicides, so it isn't quite as easy as that. Islam also isn't the only difference between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea: GDP is five times as much in the former, with $15,000 p.a. vs. $3,000.

Just scanning the map, I can't help but think of alcoholism: Greenland, Russia, Eastern Europe, and Australia have relatively high rates, and enjoying a bit too much is the common theme I can think of. It would even include any correlation with adherence to islam, since alcohol consumption is one of the largest differences in lifestyle setting muslims apart from all others.

> Qatar is listed with the second-highest rate of suicides

What's the demographic/religious breakdown of those who commit suicide in Qatar? Most people living there are expats.

Now that you mention it, the gulf states do cause emotions in me not unlike those commonly associated with suicide.

Luckily, I never stay more than a day in transit. That makes life among the cement-fetishists who leave their SUVs idling overnight to that the AC doesn't have to catch up the next morning somewhat bearable.

Not sure where people do that. I know for a fact that in the UAE at least, leaving the car idling will incur a violation.

My hypothesis is that religion satisfies (albeit with lies) some basic human needs that leads to a more content life. They don’t say religion is the opium of the masses for no reason.

This is kind of a weird perspective. They're "lies" but they satisfy a basic human need that preserves life?

That’s what faith is in the context of religion. Faith is how completely you believe the lies. Hypothetically the more complete the delusion, the more content you will be.

To end with another platitude, ignorance is bliss.

Yes

> albeit with lies

Depends on the religion. Islam doesn't need (and is actively against) lies.

Could it perhaps also be that because suicide is such a taboo subject, suicides are widely underreported?

Given the taboo, how likely is the suicide to be reported as such?

Yeah but abrahamic religion believe mankind is a some chosen life form, children of God, that the earth was made for us, etc.

I think this view has something to do with how humans are absolutely dominating the earth and collectively killing ourselves. collective suicide.