Drug use disorder deaths in South Africa
South Africa: Drug use disorder deaths was 786.29 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Drug use disorder deaths in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 786.29 deaths for drug use disorder deaths in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 4.1% on the previous year and up 21.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drug use disorder deaths in South Africa peaked at 786.29 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 363.95 deaths, in 2000.
That places South Africa 12th 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.
Drug use disorder deaths in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 363.95 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 367.38 deaths | +0.9% |
| 2002 | 454.25 deaths | +23.6% |
| 2003 | 485.12 deaths | +6.8% |
| 2004 | 483.86 deaths | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 451.75 deaths | -6.6% |
| 2006 | 453.97 deaths | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 445.3 deaths | -1.9% |
| 2008 | 525.03 deaths | +17.9% |
| 2009 | 523.99 deaths | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 670.93 deaths | +28.0% |
| 2011 | 645.26 deaths | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 652.39 deaths | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 645.28 deaths | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 679.73 deaths | +5.3% |
| 2015 | 703.67 deaths | +3.5% |
| 2016 | 689 deaths | -2.1% |
| 2017 | 651.77 deaths | -5.4% |
| 2018 | 671.1 deaths | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 702.11 deaths | +4.6% |
| 2020 | 755.31 deaths | +7.6% |
| 2021 | 786.29 deaths | +4.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 455.46 deaths | 363.95 deaths | 525.03 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 671.12 deaths | 645.26 deaths | 703.67 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 770.8 deaths | 755.31 deaths | 786.29 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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 80 and above, female, per capita 0.0081 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, annual growth rate 2.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 80 and above, male, per capita 0.0035 units per person (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, gaps filled 5,666 (2025)
- Pertussis - number of reported cases, per capita 0.0001 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is drug use disorder deaths in South Africa?
- Drug use disorder deaths in South Africa was 786.29 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest drug use disorder deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 786.29 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest drug use disorder deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 363.95 deaths in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for drug use disorder deaths?
- South Africa ranks 12th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is drug use disorder deaths rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.9%. 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 Drug use disorder deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated number of deaths from opioid use disorders in both sexes.