Drug use disorder deaths by sex in Canada

Canada: Drug use disorder deaths by sex was 1,781 deaths in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
1,781 deaths
Change on year
up 13.4%
World rank
4th
of 194 countries
All-time high
1,781 deaths
in 2021
All-time low
259.6 deaths
in 2000
Years of data
22
2000–2021

Drug use disorder deaths by sex in Canada, 2000–2021

5001.0k1.5k2.0k2000201020212000: 259.6 deaths2001: 262.7 deaths2002: 302.6 deaths2003: 290.2 deaths2004: 284.9 deaths2005: 349.2 deaths2006: 350.3 deaths2007: 408.4 deaths2008: 477.4 deaths2009: 455.3 deaths2010: 478.7 deaths2011: 523.3 deaths2012: 554.2 deaths2013: 566.3 deaths2014: 613.6 deaths2015: 686.2 deaths2016: 933.8 deaths2017: 1.1k deaths2018: 1.3k deaths2019: 1.3k deaths2020: 1.6k deaths2021: 1.8k deaths

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for drug use disorder deaths by sex in Canada is 1,781 deaths, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.

That represents a change of up 13.4% on the previous year and up 240.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, drug use disorder deaths by sex in Canada peaked at 1,781 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 259.6 deaths, in 2000.

Canada ranks 4th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

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

Drug use disorder deaths by sex in Canada, year by year

Annual values for Drug use disorder deaths by sex in Canada, 2000 to 2021.
Year deaths Change
2000 259.6 deaths
2001 262.67 deaths +1.2%
2002 302.58 deaths +15.2%
2003 290.23 deaths -4.1%
2004 284.87 deaths -1.8%
2005 349.16 deaths +22.6%
2006 350.32 deaths +0.3%
2007 408.39 deaths +16.6%
2008 477.43 deaths +16.9%
2009 455.33 deaths -4.6%
2010 478.7 deaths +5.1%
2011 523.31 deaths +9.3%
2012 554.25 deaths +5.9%
2013 566.28 deaths +2.2%
2014 613.57 deaths +8.4%
2015 686.22 deaths +11.8%
2016 933.82 deaths +36.1%
2017 1,137 deaths +21.8%
2018 1,330 deaths +16.9%
2019 1,254 deaths -5.7%
2020 1,570 deaths +25.2%
2021 1,781 deaths +13.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 344.06 deaths 259.6 deaths 477.43 deaths 10
2010s 807.74 deaths 478.7 deaths 1,330 deaths 10
2020s 1,676 deaths 1,570 deaths 1,781 deaths 2

Countries ranked near Canada

  1. 1 United States 30,935 deaths compare
  2. 2 India 2,898 deaths compare
  3. 3 China 2,302 deaths compare
  4. 5 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1,496 deaths compare
  5. 6 Russian Federation 1,167 deaths compare
  6. 7 France 615.62 deaths compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More health data for Canada

All data for Canada →

Frequently asked questions

What is drug use disorder deaths by sex in Canada?
Drug use disorder deaths by sex in Canada was 1,781 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 by sex recorded in Canada?
The highest recorded value was 1,781 deaths in 2021.
What is the lowest drug use disorder deaths by sex recorded in Canada?
The lowest recorded value was 259.6 deaths in 2000.
How does Canada rank for drug use disorder deaths by sex?
Canada ranks 4th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
Is drug use disorder deaths by sex rising or falling in Canada?
Over the last ten years it is up 240.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Canada 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 by sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Drug use disorder deaths by sex in Canada. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 30 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/deaths-drug-use-disorders-by-sex/canada/

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About this data

Indicator
Drug use disorder 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 drug use disorders in females.