Mental health and substance use disorders death rate in Ireland
Ireland: Mental health and substance use disorders death rate was 6.87 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Latest (2021)
6.87 deaths per 100,000 people
Change on year
down 20.2%
World rank
33rd
of 194 countries
All-time high
8.61 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2020
All-time low
4.72 deaths per 100,000 people
in 2003
Years of data
22
2000–2021
Mental health and substance use disorders death rate in Ireland, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths per 100,000 people.
Analysis
Ireland recorded 6.87 deaths per 100,000 people for mental health and substance use disorders death rate in 2021.
The figure is down 20.2% on the previous year and up 28.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mental health and substance use disorders death rate in Ireland peaked at 8.61 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020 and was at its lowest, 4.72 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2003.
That places Ireland 33rd 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 Ireland, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.46 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 5.57 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 5.19 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.8% |
| 2003 | 4.72 deaths per 100,000 people | -9.1% |
| 2004 | 5.59 deaths per 100,000 people | +18.4% |
| 2005 | 5 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.6% |
| 2006 | 5.33 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.6% |
| 2007 | 6.77 deaths per 100,000 people | +27.0% |
| 2008 | 6.41 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 6.88 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.3% |
| 2010 | 6.04 deaths per 100,000 people | -12.2% |
| 2011 | 5.36 deaths per 100,000 people | -11.3% |
| 2012 | 5.62 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.9% |
| 2013 | 6.05 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.7% |
| 2014 | 5.64 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.8% |
| 2015 | 5.53 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2016 | 5.25 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.1% |
| 2017 | 5.54 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.5% |
| 2018 | 6.47 deaths per 100,000 people | +16.8% |
| 2019 | 5.82 deaths per 100,000 people | -10.0% |
| 2020 | 8.61 deaths per 100,000 people | +47.9% |
| 2021 | 6.87 deaths per 100,000 people | -20.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.69 deaths per 100,000 people | 4.72 deaths per 100,000 people | 6.88 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.73 deaths per 100,000 people | 5.25 deaths per 100,000 people | 6.47 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.74 deaths per 100,000 people | 6.87 deaths per 100,000 people | 8.61 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 30 Luxembourg 7.31 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 31 Australia 7.2 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 32 Switzerland 6.89 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 34 Netherlands 6.73 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 35 Belgium 6.37 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 36 Czechia 6.25 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for Ireland
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -4.76 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.89 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,122 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 20 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 15-19, male, annual growth rate 3.65 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 15-19, male, per capita 0.0355 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, annual growth rate 3.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 20-24, female, per capita 0.0325 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mental health and substance use disorders death rate in Ireland?
- Mental health and substance use disorders death rate in Ireland was 6.87 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 Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 8.61 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020.
- What is the lowest mental health and substance use disorders death rate recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.72 deaths per 100,000 people in 2003.
- How does Ireland rank for mental health and substance use disorders death rate?
- Ireland ranks 33rd out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is mental health and substance use disorders death rate rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 28.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland 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.