Australia vs South Africa: Substance use disorder deaths

Australia
1,278 deaths
in 2021
South Africa
1,204 deaths
in 2021
Australia rank
11th
South Africa rank
12th

Substance use disorder deaths over time

  • Australia
  • South Africa
05001.0k1.5k200020102021

How they compare

Australia currently reports 1,278 deaths against 1,204 deaths in South Africa, a difference of 74 deaths.

That makes Australia's figure about 1.1 times South Africa's.

The two have swapped places 8 times across 22 shared years of data; in 2000 it was Australia ahead.

Australia ranks 11th and South Africa ranks 12th of 194 countries.

Australia has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade Australia South Africa Difference Ahead
2000s 766.96 deaths 685.11 deaths 81.85 deaths Australia
2010s 1,198 deaths 1,019 deaths 178.47 deaths Australia
2020s 1,350 deaths 1,179 deaths 170.84 deaths Australia

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher substance use disorder deaths, Australia or South Africa?
Australia, at 1,278 deaths against 1,204 deaths in South Africa as of 2021.
What is the difference in substance use disorder deaths between Australia and South Africa?
74 deaths, with Australia ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Australia and South Africa?
22 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2021.
How do Australia and South Africa rank globally for substance use disorder deaths?
Australia ranks 11th and South Africa ranks 12th of 194 countries.
Where does this data come from?
World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Substance use disorder deaths. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Australia vs South Africa: Substance use disorder deaths. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/deaths-from-substance-use-disorders-who/australia/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Substance use disorder deaths
Unit
deaths
Source
World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
194 places, 4,268 data points, 2000–2021
Last refreshed

Estimated number of deaths from drug use disorders in both sexes.