Deaths drug overdoses who in United States

United States: Deaths drug overdoses who was 83,344 in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
83,344
Change on year
up 17.5%
World rank
1st
of 192 countries
All-time high
83,344
in 2021
All-time low
10,295
in 2000
Years of data
22
2000–2021

Deaths drug overdoses who in United States, 2000–2021

20.0k40.0k60.0k80.0k2000201020212000: 10.3k2001: 11.2k2002: 13.8k2003: 15.5k2004: 16.8k2005: 19.0k2006: 22.1k2007: 22.5k2008: 23.1k2009: 23.7k2010: 24.6k2011: 27.2k2012: 27.4k2013: 29.5k2014: 32.1k2015: 36.7k2016: 45.2k2017: 50.3k2018: 48.5k2019: 51.6k2020: 70.9k2021: 83.3k

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

In 2021, deaths drug overdoses who in United States stood at 83,344. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 17.5% on the previous year and up 206.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, deaths drug overdoses who in United States peaked at 83,344 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 10,295, in 2000.

United States ranks 1st of 192 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Deaths drug overdoses who in United States, year by year

Annual values for Deaths drug overdoses who in United States, 2000 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2000 10,295
2001 11,221 +9.0%
2002 13,780 +22.8%
2003 15,482 +12.3%
2004 16,779 +8.4%
2005 19,024 +13.4%
2006 22,118 +16.3%
2007 22,538 +1.9%
2008 23,053 +2.3%
2009 23,704 +2.8%
2010 24,601 +3.8%
2011 27,162 +10.4%
2012 27,435 +1.0%
2013 29,513 +7.6%
2014 32,133 +8.9%
2015 36,675 +14.1%
2016 45,163 +23.1%
2017 50,266 +11.3%
2018 48,462 -3.6%
2019 51,564 +6.4%
2020 70,908 +37.5%
2021 83,344 +17.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 17,799 10,295 23,704 10
2010s 37,297 24,601 51,564 10
2020s 77,126 70,908 83,344 2

Countries ranked near United States

  1. 1 Cook Islands 0.02 compare
  2. 2 India 6,192 compare
  3. 2 Niue 0
  4. 3 Canada 5,602 compare
  5. 4 China 5,568 compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More health data for United States

All data for United States →

Frequently asked questions

What is deaths drug overdoses who in United States?
Deaths drug overdoses who in United States was 83,344 in 2021, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest deaths drug overdoses who recorded in United States?
The highest recorded value was 83,344 in 2021.
What is the lowest deaths drug overdoses who recorded in United States?
The lowest recorded value was 10,295 in 2000.
How does United States rank for deaths drug overdoses who?
United States ranks 1st out of 192 countries with data for 2021.
Is deaths drug overdoses who rising or falling in United States?
Over the last ten years it is up 206.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this United States data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Deaths drug overdoses who. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Deaths drug overdoses who in United States. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 28 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/deaths-drug-overdoses-who/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Deaths drug overdoses who
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
194 places, 4,268 data points, 2000–2021
Last refreshed