Opioid use disorder death rate in South Africa
South Africa: Opioid use disorder death rate was 1.32 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Opioid use disorder death rate in South Africa, 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 opioid use disorder death rate in South Africa is 1.32 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.1% on the previous year and up 7.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, opioid use disorder death rate in South Africa peaked at 1.32 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021 and was at its lowest, 0.78 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2000.
That places South Africa 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.
Opioid use disorder death rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.78 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 0.78 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.95 deaths per 100,000 people | +21.8% |
| 2003 | 1.01 deaths per 100,000 people | +6.3% |
| 2004 | 1 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.0% |
| 2005 | 0.92 deaths per 100,000 people | -8.0% |
| 2006 | 0.92 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.89 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 1.04 deaths per 100,000 people | +16.9% |
| 2009 | 1.02 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 1.3 deaths per 100,000 people | +27.5% |
| 2011 | 1.23 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.4% |
| 2012 | 1.23 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 1.2 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.4% |
| 2014 | 1.24 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.3% |
| 2015 | 1.26 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 1.22 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 1.15 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.7% |
| 2018 | 1.17 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.7% |
| 2019 | 1.21 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 1.28 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.8% |
| 2021 | 1.32 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.931 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.78 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.04 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.22 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.15 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.3 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.3 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.28 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.32 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 28 Netherlands 1.47 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 29 Ukraine 1.45 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 30 Germany 1.4 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 32 Kazakhstan 1.28 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 33 Cyprus 1.22 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 34 Belgium 1.06 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 0.4769 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.1279 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 0.5816 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.1293 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is opioid use disorder death rate in South Africa?
- Opioid use disorder death rate in South Africa was 1.32 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 opioid use disorder death rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.32 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021.
- What is the lowest opioid use disorder death rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.78 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for opioid use disorder death rate?
- South Africa ranks 31st out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is opioid use disorder death rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Opioid use disorder death rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from opioid use disorders in both sexes, per 100,000 people.