Drug use disorder deaths by sex in United States of America
United States of America: Drug use disorder deaths by sex was 30,935 deaths in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Drug use disorder deaths by sex in United States of America, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
United States of America recorded 30,935 deaths for drug use disorder deaths by sex in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 16.7% on the previous year and up 137.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drug use disorder deaths by sex in United States of America peaked at 30,935 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 3,930 deaths, in 2000.
That places United States of America 1st out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it 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 States of America, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3,930 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 4,494 deaths | +14.3% |
| 2002 | 5,868 deaths | +30.6% |
| 2003 | 6,728 deaths | +14.6% |
| 2004 | 7,522 deaths | +11.8% |
| 2005 | 8,365 deaths | +11.2% |
| 2006 | 9,615 deaths | +14.9% |
| 2007 | 10,364 deaths | +7.8% |
| 2008 | 10,666 deaths | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 11,210 deaths | +5.1% |
| 2010 | 11,953 deaths | +6.6% |
| 2011 | 13,050 deaths | +9.2% |
| 2012 | 13,199 deaths | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 14,029 deaths | +6.3% |
| 2014 | 15,152 deaths | +8.0% |
| 2015 | 16,533 deaths | +9.1% |
| 2016 | 19,204 deaths | +16.2% |
| 2017 | 21,080 deaths | +9.8% |
| 2018 | 20,073 deaths | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 20,534 deaths | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 26,516 deaths | +29.1% |
| 2021 | 30,935 deaths | +16.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 7,876 deaths | 3,930 deaths | 11,210 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 16,481 deaths | 11,953 deaths | 21,080 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 28,726 deaths | 26,516 deaths | 30,935 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More health data for United States of America
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,069 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,015 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 05-09, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, female, per capita 0.0277 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, male, annual growth rate -1.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 05-09, male, per capita 0.0291 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 10-14, female, annual growth rate -0.6756 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is drug use disorder deaths by sex in United States of America?
- Drug use disorder deaths by sex in United States of America was 30,935 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 States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 30,935 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest drug use disorder deaths by sex recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,930 deaths in 2000.
- How does United States of America rank for drug use disorder deaths by sex?
- United States of America ranks 1st out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is drug use disorder deaths by sex rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 137.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States of America 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.