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Suicide rates increase with age and very old men commit suicide the most. With nearly a century and a half of data on suicide, it appears that this is a statistical constant with only fairly minor variations. However, suicide in the elderly has not really been the subject of specific interpretation by French sociology. From the literature, this article shows that age has not really been considered as a social condition, whilst the focus has been on youth suicide and suicide at work. Finally, we contend that a rational dimension to the suicide of the elderly needs to be questioned, particularly in relation to assisted suicide.