Drug use disorder deaths by sex in South Africa
South Africa: Drug use disorder deaths by sex was 614.14 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Drug use disorder deaths by sex in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
In 2021, drug use disorder deaths by sex in South Africa stood at 614.14 deaths. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 14.2% on the previous year and up 11.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drug use disorder deaths by sex in South Africa peaked at 614.14 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 235.76 deaths, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 8th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Drug use disorder deaths by sex in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 235.76 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 239.46 deaths | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 318.46 deaths | +33.0% |
| 2003 | 376 deaths | +18.1% |
| 2004 | 370.71 deaths | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 342.13 deaths | -7.7% |
| 2006 | 353.51 deaths | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 379.1 deaths | +7.2% |
| 2008 | 490.69 deaths | +29.4% |
| 2009 | 491.11 deaths | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 601.54 deaths | +22.5% |
| 2011 | 552.44 deaths | -8.2% |
| 2012 | 514.01 deaths | -7.0% |
| 2013 | 491.03 deaths | -4.5% |
| 2014 | 495.84 deaths | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 482.94 deaths | -2.6% |
| 2016 | 452.78 deaths | -6.2% |
| 2017 | 429.06 deaths | -5.2% |
| 2018 | 450.08 deaths | +4.9% |
| 2019 | 477.26 deaths | +6.0% |
| 2020 | 537.89 deaths | +12.7% |
| 2021 | 614.14 deaths | +14.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 359.69 deaths | 235.76 deaths | 491.11 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 494.7 deaths | 429.06 deaths | 601.54 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 576.01 deaths | 537.89 deaths | 614.14 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 5 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1,496 deaths compare
- 6 Russian Federation 1,167 deaths compare
- 7 France 615.62 deaths compare
- 9 Iran, Islamic Republic of 530.72 deaths compare
- 10 Australia 407.3 deaths compare
- 11 Pakistan 405.82 deaths compare
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)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is drug use disorder deaths by sex in South Africa?
- Drug use disorder deaths by sex in South Africa was 614.14 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 614.14 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest drug use disorder deaths by sex recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 235.76 deaths in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for drug use disorder deaths by sex?
- South Africa ranks 8th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is drug use disorder deaths by sex rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.2%. 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 by sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from drug use disorders in females.