Alcohol and drug use disorders death rate in South Africa
South Africa: Alcohol and drug use disorders death rate was 3.31 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. ▲ Rising
Alcohol and drug use disorders 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
In 2021, alcohol and drug use disorders death rate in South Africa stood at 3.31 deaths per 100,000 people. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, alcohol and drug use disorders death rate in South Africa peaked at 3.31 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2.13 deaths per 100,000 people, in 2001.
South Africa ranks 53rd of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Alcohol and drug use disorders death rate in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths per 100,000 people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2.17 deaths per 100,000 people | — |
| 2001 | 2.13 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 2.42 deaths per 100,000 people | +13.2% |
| 2003 | 2.5 deaths per 100,000 people | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 2.43 deaths per 100,000 people | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 2.3 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.2% |
| 2006 | 2.35 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 2.32 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 2.57 deaths per 100,000 people | +11.0% |
| 2009 | 2.53 deaths per 100,000 people | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 3.21 deaths per 100,000 people | +26.6% |
| 2011 | 3.04 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.3% |
| 2012 | 3.09 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.7% |
| 2013 | 3.06 deaths per 100,000 people | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 3.19 deaths per 100,000 people | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 3.26 deaths per 100,000 people | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 3.17 deaths per 100,000 people | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 2.99 deaths per 100,000 people | -5.5% |
| 2018 | 3.03 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 3.08 deaths per 100,000 people | +1.7% |
| 2020 | 3.3 deaths per 100,000 people | +7.1% |
| 2021 | 3.31 deaths per 100,000 people | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2.37 deaths per 100,000 people | 2.13 deaths per 100,000 people | 2.57 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.11 deaths per 100,000 people | 2.99 deaths per 100,000 people | 3.26 deaths per 100,000 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.3 deaths per 100,000 people | 3.3 deaths per 100,000 people | 3.31 deaths per 100,000 people | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 50 Greece 3.63 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 51 Honduras 3.58 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 52 Costa Rica 3.48 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 54 Eritrea 3.27 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 55 Thailand 3.19 deaths per 100,000 people compare
- 56 Iran, Islamic Republic of 3.18 deaths per 100,000 people compare
More health data for South Africa
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- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Total tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 22 (2025)
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- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, gaps filled 314 (2025)
- Diphtheria - number of reported cases, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
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Frequently asked questions
- What is alcohol and drug use disorders death rate in South Africa?
- Alcohol and drug use disorders death rate in South Africa was 3.31 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 alcohol and drug use disorders death rate recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 3.31 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021.
- What is the lowest alcohol and drug use disorders death rate recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.13 deaths per 100,000 people in 2001.
- How does South Africa rank for alcohol and drug use disorders death rate?
- South Africa ranks 53rd out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is alcohol and drug use disorders death rate rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.8%. 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 Alcohol and drug use disorders death rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from substance use disorders in both sexes, per 100,000 people.