Alcohol and drug use disorders deaths by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Alcohol and drug use disorders deaths by sex was 2,006 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
2,006 deaths
Change on year
up 8.2%
World rank
6th
of 194 countries
All-time high
2,006 deaths
in 2021
All-time low
648.04 deaths
in 2003
Years of data
22
2000–2021

Alcohol and drug use disorders deaths by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000–2021

5001.0k1.5k2.0k2000201020212000: 718.8 deaths2001: 731.5 deaths2002: 658 deaths2003: 648 deaths2004: 717.7 deaths2005: 723 deaths2006: 710.8 deaths2007: 746.6 deaths2008: 879 deaths2009: 839.1 deaths2010: 932.9 deaths2011: 928.3 deaths2012: 937.3 deaths2013: 1.0k deaths2014: 1.2k deaths2015: 1.3k deaths2016: 1.4k deaths2017: 1.5k deaths2018: 1.7k deaths2019: 1.8k deaths2020: 1.9k deaths2021: 2.0k deaths

Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.

Analysis

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 2,006 deaths for alcohol and drug use disorders deaths by sex in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.2% on the previous year and up 116.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, alcohol and drug use disorders deaths by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 2,006 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 648.04 deaths, in 2003.

That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 6th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

Alcohol and drug use disorders deaths by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Alcohol and drug use disorders deaths by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000 to 2021.
Year deaths Change
2000 718.78 deaths
2001 731.47 deaths +1.8%
2002 658.02 deaths -10.0%
2003 648.04 deaths -1.5%
2004 717.74 deaths +10.8%
2005 722.96 deaths +0.7%
2006 710.75 deaths -1.7%
2007 746.65 deaths +5.1%
2008 879.01 deaths +17.7%
2009 839.13 deaths -4.5%
2010 932.91 deaths +11.2%
2011 928.31 deaths -0.5%
2012 937.31 deaths +1.0%
2013 1,008 deaths +7.5%
2014 1,228 deaths +21.9%
2015 1,291 deaths +5.2%
2016 1,395 deaths +8.0%
2017 1,476 deaths +5.8%
2018 1,733 deaths +17.4%
2019 1,797 deaths +3.7%
2020 1,854 deaths +3.2%
2021 2,006 deaths +8.2%

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries

  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 2,006 deaths is above the median for high income countries, which is 42.84 deaths, 46.8× the median. (63 countries reporting)
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 2,006 deaths is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 62.44 deaths, 32.1× the median. (51 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 737.25 deaths 648.04 deaths 879.01 deaths 10
2010s 1,273 deaths 928.31 deaths 1,797 deaths 10
2020s 1,930 deaths 1,854 deaths 2,006 deaths 2

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 3 India 4,092 deaths compare
  2. 4 China 3,541 deaths compare
  3. 5 Canada 2,114 deaths compare
  4. 7 Germany 1,632 deaths compare
  5. 8 France 1,248 deaths compare
  6. 9 Brazil 1,211 deaths compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More health data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is alcohol and drug use disorders deaths by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Alcohol and drug use disorders deaths by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 2,006 deaths 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 deaths by sex recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 2,006 deaths in 2021.
What is the lowest alcohol and drug use disorders deaths by sex recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 648.04 deaths in 2003.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for alcohol and drug use disorders deaths by sex?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 6th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
Is alcohol and drug use disorders deaths by sex rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 116.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 deaths by sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Alcohol and drug use disorders deaths by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 14 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/deaths-alcohol-drugs-by-sex-who/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Alcohol and drug use disorders deaths by sex
Unit
deaths
Source
World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
194 places, 4,268 data points, 2000–2021
Last refreshed

Estimated number of deaths from substance use disorders in females.