Drug use disorder death rate in New Zealand
New Zealand: Drug use disorder death rate was 1.55 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Drug use disorder death rate in New Zealand, 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 drug use disorder death rate in New Zealand is 1.55 deaths per 100,000 people, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.4% on the previous year and down 9.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drug use disorder death rate in New Zealand peaked at 1.72 deaths per 100,000 people in 2011 and was at its lowest, 0.75 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2000.
That places New Zealand 34th 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.
Drug use disorder death rate in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.75 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 1.07 deaths per 100,000 people | +42.7% |
| 2002 | 1.41 deaths per 100,000 people | +31.8% |
| 2003 | 0.96 deaths per 100,000 people | -31.9% |
| 2004 | 1.03 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.3% |
| 2005 | 1.29 deaths per 100,000 people | +25.2% |
| 2006 | 1.01 deaths per 100,000 people | -21.7% |
| 2007 | 1.44 deaths per 100,000 people | +42.6% |
| 2008 | 1.47 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.1% |
| 2009 | 1.65 deaths per 100,000 people | +12.2% |
| 2010 | 1.49 deaths per 100,000 people | -9.7% |
| 2011 | 1.72 deaths per 100,000 people | +15.4% |
| 2012 | 1.62 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.8% |
| 2013 | 1.4 deaths per 100,000 people | -13.6% |
| 2014 | 1.6 deaths per 100,000 people | +14.3% |
| 2015 | 1.35 deaths per 100,000 people | -15.6% |
| 2016 | 1.67 deaths per 100,000 people | +23.7% |
| 2017 | 1.61 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 1.5 deaths per 100,000 people | -6.8% |
| 2019 | 1.5 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 1.47 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 1.55 deaths per 100,000 people | +5.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.21 deaths per 100,000 people | 0.75 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.65 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.55 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.35 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.72 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.51 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.47 deaths per 100,000 people | 1.55 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 31 Ukraine 1.73 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 32 Croatia 1.71 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 33 Cyprus 1.64 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 35 Belgium 1.45 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 36 Malta 1.39 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 37 Turkmenistan 1.38 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for New Zealand
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.94 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.4815 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,116 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 33 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 30-34, female, annual growth rate -2.32 % 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 0.0359 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 30-34, male, annual growth rate -1.05 % 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 0.0373 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is drug use disorder death rate in New Zealand?
- Drug use disorder death rate in New Zealand was 1.55 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 drug use disorder death rate recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 1.72 deaths per 100,000 people in 2011.
- What is the lowest drug use disorder death rate recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.75 deaths per 100,000 people in 2000.
- How does New Zealand rank for drug use disorder death rate?
- New Zealand ranks 34th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is drug use disorder death rate rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Drug use disorder death rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from drug use disorders in both sexes, per 100,000 people.