Mental health and substance use disorders death rate in Australia
Australia: Mental health and substance use disorders death rate was 7.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Mental health and substance use disorders death rate in Australia, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mental health and substance use disorders death rate in Australia is 7.2 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2021.
The figure is down 4.8% on the previous year and up 13.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mental health and substance use disorders death rate in Australia peaked at 8.35 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000 and was at its lowest, 4.75 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2002.
That places Australia 31st out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Mental health and substance use disorders death rate in Australia, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 8.35 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 5.07 deaths per 100,000 people | -39.3% |
| 2002 | 4.75 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.3% |
| 2003 | 5.11 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.6% |
| 2004 | 5.02 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.8% |
| 2005 | 5.62 deaths per 100,000 people | +12.0% |
| 2006 | 5.09 deaths per 100,000 people | -9.4% |
| 2007 | 5.35 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.1% |
| 2008 | 5.96 deaths per 100,000 people | +11.4% |
| 2009 | 6.4 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.4% |
| 2010 | 6.18 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.4% |
| 2011 | 6.37 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 6.03 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.3% |
| 2013 | 5.87 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 6.9 deaths per 100,000 people | +17.5% |
| 2015 | 7.19 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 7.59 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.6% |
| 2017 | 7.85 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 7.57 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 7.57 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 7.56 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.1% |
| 2021 | 7.2 deaths per 100,000 people | -4.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.67 deaths per 100,000 people | 4.75 deaths per 100,000 people | 8.35 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.91 deaths per 100,000 people | 5.87 deaths per 100,000 people | 7.85 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.38 deaths per 100,000 people | 7.2 deaths per 100,000 people | 7.56 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 28 Serbia 7.81 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 29 Republic of Moldova 7.45 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 30 Luxembourg 7.31 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 32 Switzerland 6.89 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 33 Ireland 6.87 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 34 Netherlands 6.73 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for Australia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.9072 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 906.6 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 215 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate -0.3038 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, female, per capita 0.0361 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, annual growth rate 0.6574 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, per capita 0.0363 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mental health and substance use disorders death rate in Australia?
- Mental health and substance use disorders death rate in Australia was 7.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest mental health and substance use disorders death rate recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 8.35 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
- What is the lowest mental health and substance use disorders death rate recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.75 deaths per 100,000 people in 2002.
- How does Australia rank for mental health and substance use disorders death rate?
- Australia ranks 31st out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is mental health and substance use disorders death rate rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Mental health and substance use disorders death rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from mental and substance use disorders in both sexes, per 100,000 people.