Drug use disorder deaths by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Drug use disorder deaths by sex was 1,496 deaths in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
1,496 deaths
Change on year
up 8.2%
World rank
5th
of 194 countries
All-time high
1,496 deaths
in 2021
All-time low
362.56 deaths
in 2003
Years of data
22
2000–2021

Drug use disorder deaths by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000–2021

2505007501.0k1.2k1.5k2000201020212000: 449.1 deaths2001: 414.2 deaths2002: 363.7 deaths2003: 362.6 deaths2004: 387.9 deaths2005: 401.6 deaths2006: 399.7 deaths2007: 390.8 deaths2008: 536 deaths2009: 516.7 deaths2010: 544.9 deaths2011: 548.4 deaths2012: 559.5 deaths2013: 644.4 deaths2014: 806.8 deaths2015: 912.6 deaths2016: 1.0k deaths2017: 1.0k deaths2018: 1.3k deaths2019: 1.4k deaths2020: 1.4k deaths2021: 1.5k deaths

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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland stood at 1,496 deaths. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.

That represents a change of up 8.2% on the previous year and up 172.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, drug use disorder deaths by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 1,496 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 362.56 deaths, in 2003.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 5th 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Drug use disorder deaths by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000 to 2021.
Year deaths Change
2000 449.13 deaths
2001 414.17 deaths -7.8%
2002 363.71 deaths -12.2%
2003 362.56 deaths -0.3%
2004 387.92 deaths +7.0%
2005 401.63 deaths +3.5%
2006 399.74 deaths -0.5%
2007 390.77 deaths -2.2%
2008 535.95 deaths +37.2%
2009 516.74 deaths -3.6%
2010 544.92 deaths +5.5%
2011 548.44 deaths +0.6%
2012 559.54 deaths +2.0%
2013 644.39 deaths +15.2%
2014 806.82 deaths +25.2%
2015 912.65 deaths +13.1%
2016 1,019 deaths +11.7%
2017 1,049 deaths +2.9%
2018 1,255 deaths +19.6%
2019 1,370 deaths +9.2%
2020 1,382 deaths +0.9%
2021 1,496 deaths +8.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 422.23 deaths 362.56 deaths 535.95 deaths 10
2010s 870.92 deaths 544.92 deaths 1,370 deaths 10
2020s 1,439 deaths 1,382 deaths 1,496 deaths 2

Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

  1. 2 India 2,898 deaths compare
  2. 3 China 2,302 deaths compare
  3. 4 Canada 1,781 deaths compare
  4. 6 Russian Federation 1,167 deaths compare
  5. 7 France 615.62 deaths compare
  6. 8 South Africa 614.14 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 drug use disorder deaths by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Drug use disorder deaths by sex in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 1,496 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 1,496 deaths in 2021.
What is the lowest drug use disorder deaths by sex recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 362.56 deaths in 2003.
How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for drug use disorder deaths by sex?
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 5th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
Is drug use disorder deaths by sex rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 172.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
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 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 09 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/deaths-drug-use-disorders-by-sex/united-kingdom/

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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.