Which has higher alcohol and drug use disorders deaths, China or United States of America?

United States of America, at 20,214 deaths against 18,438 deaths in China as of 2021.

What is the difference in alcohol and drug use disorders deaths between China and United States of America?

1,776 deaths, with United States of America ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States of America?

22 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2021.

Where does this data come from?

World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Alcohol and drug use disorders deaths. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

China vs United States of America: Alcohol and drug use disorders deaths

China

18,438 deaths

in 2021

United States of America

20,214 deaths

in 2021

China rank

4th

United States of America rank

2nd

Alcohol and drug use disorders deaths over time

China
United States of America

How they compare

United States of America currently reports 20,214 deaths against 18,438 deaths in China, a difference of 1,776 deaths.

That makes United States of America's figure about 1.1 times China's.

The two have swapped places 1 time across 22 shared years of data; in 2000 it was China ahead.

China ranks 4th and United States of America ranks 2nd of 194 countries.

Across the 3 decades both report, China averaged higher in 2 and United States of America in 1.

Head to head by decade

Decade	China	United States of America	Difference	Ahead
2000s	17,457 deaths	7,790 deaths	9,666 deaths	China
2010s	18,613 deaths	11,227 deaths	7,386 deaths	China
2020s	18,560 deaths	19,486 deaths	926.45 deaths	United States of America

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher alcohol and drug use disorders deaths, China or United States of America?: United States of America, at 20,214 deaths against 18,438 deaths in China as of 2021.
What is the difference in alcohol and drug use disorders deaths between China and United States of America?: 1,776 deaths, with United States of America ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and United States of America?: 22 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2021.
How do China and United States of America rank globally for alcohol and drug use disorders deaths?: China ranks 4th and United States of America ranks 2nd of 194 countries.
Where does this data come from?: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Alcohol and drug use disorders deaths. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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China vs United States of America: Alcohol and drug use disorders deaths. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 31 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/compare/deaths-substance-disorders-who/china/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator: Alcohol and drug use disorders 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: 28 August 2026

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