This is part 1 of a 4-part study of suicide by Hirsch. In this article he presents the demography of suicide, presenting data for the period 1925-56. Suicide was the 11th rated major cause of death in the U.S. in 1955. Japan led other countries in suicide rates (26.1 males & 18.7 females per 100000) in the years 1951-53. Suicides in New York City from 1925-54 occurred mainly in the 46-50 year old category. The male:female ratio was between 3 or 4 to 1. 20 ref. (NBB)