Akita Prefecture once again has the nation's highest suicide rate after improving to the second-worst status in 2014, according to the latest welfare ministry demographic data.

In each of the 19 years since 1995, Akita had the most suicides per 100,000 people. But in 2014 it was eclipsed by neighboring Iwate.

Akita Gov. Norihisa Satake said Monday his prefecture's suicide prevention efforts are bearing fruit, noting a reduction in the number of suicides and a fall in the suicide rate.

The demographic data for 2015 showed that 262 people killed themselves in Akita in 2015, seven fewer than the previous year. That translated into 25.7 suicides per 100,000 people, down 0.3 point from 2014.

Iwate had the second-highest rate at 23.3 suicides per 100,000 people, down 3.3 points. The national average was 18.4 suicides per 100,000 people.