Manama: India had the highest number of nationals who committed suicide in Kuwait last year, with 43 cases, a Kuwaiti daily has reported.

Official figures show that 37 men and six women from the Indian community, the largest in the Gulf state ended their lives in 2016.

They were among the 73 people from different countries and age groups who killed themselves for various reasons.

Kuwaitis were second on the list with 11 suicides — nine men and two women — and Sri Lankans were third with six cases.

Five people from Nepal and four others, including one woman from Egypt, also committed suicide, according to the list published by Al Qabas on Monday.

The other suicide cases involved nationals from several countries including the Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Ethiopia.

The figures showed that 75 people committed suicide in 2015, up from 61 in 2014.

In 2013, the figure was 52, one less than 2012, but much higher than the 37 in 2011.

In 2010, there were 52 suicide cases.

A total of 20 suicide cases had been recorded in 2017, as of Monday, the figures showed.

Hanging topped the list of the methods used to end lives, followed by jumping from high places, taking overdoses of medicine and swallowing poison.

Other methods included self-immolation and slitting veins.

Most suicides in 2016 occurred during the month of March, followed by October and February.