This paper examined trends in national, regional, gender, & age-specific suicide rates in China over 1991-2000, a time of rapid economic & social changes. A regression model was used to detect any variations. National, urban, & rural suicide rates for men & women decreased significantly over the study period; age-specific rates, however, showed that there were different patterns of changes in suicide rates in rural & urban areas. Elderly suicide rates showed the most significant decrease in urban areas; younger women showed the largest decrease in rural areas. The male to female gender ratio in suicide increased significantly in urban areas but no significant change was found in rural areas. (32 refs.) JA