Deaths drug use disorders by sex in United States

United States: Deaths drug use disorders by sex was 30,935 in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
30,935
Change on year
up 16.7%
World rank
1st
of 194 countries
All-time high
30,935
in 2021
All-time low
3,930
in 2000
Years of data
22
2000–2021

Deaths drug use disorders by sex in United States, 2000–2021

010.0k20.0k30.0k2000201020212000: 3.9k2001: 4.5k2002: 5.9k2003: 6.7k2004: 7.5k2005: 8.4k2006: 9.6k2007: 10.4k2008: 10.7k2009: 11.2k2010: 12.0k2011: 13.1k2012: 13.2k2013: 14.0k2014: 15.2k2015: 16.5k2016: 19.2k2017: 21.1k2018: 20.1k2019: 20.5k2020: 26.5k2021: 30.9k

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

United States recorded 30,935 for deaths drug use disorders 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, deaths drug use disorders by sex in United States peaked at 30,935 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 3,930, in 2000.

That places United States 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.

Deaths drug use disorders by sex in United States, year by year

Annual values for Deaths drug use disorders by sex in United States, 2000 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2000 3,930 —
2001 4,494 +14.3%
2002 5,868 +30.6%
2003 6,728 +14.6%
2004 7,522 +11.8%
2005 8,365 +11.2%
2006 9,615 +14.9%
2007 10,364 +7.8%
2008 10,666 +2.9%
2009 11,210 +5.1%
2010 11,953 +6.6%
2011 13,050 +9.2%
2012 13,199 +1.1%
2013 14,029 +6.3%
2014 15,152 +8.0%
2015 16,533 +9.1%
2016 19,204 +16.2%
2017 21,080 +9.8%
2018 20,073 -4.8%
2019 20,534 +2.3%
2020 26,516 +29.1%
2021 30,935 +16.7%

United States compared with similar countries

  • United States's 30,935 is above the median for high income countries, which is 14.22, 2175.5× the median. (63 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 7,876 3,930 11,210 10
2010s 16,481 11,953 21,080 10
2020s 28,726 26,516 30,935 2

Countries ranked near United States

  1. 2 India 2,898 compare
  2. 3 China 2,302 compare
  3. 4 Canada 1,781 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 use disorders by sex in United States?
Deaths drug use disorders by sex in United States was 30,935 in 2021, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest deaths drug use disorders by sex recorded in United States?
The highest recorded value was 30,935 in 2021.
What is the lowest deaths drug use disorders by sex recorded in United States?
The lowest recorded value was 3,930 in 2000.
How does United States rank for deaths drug use disorders by sex?
United States ranks 1st out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
Is deaths drug use disorders by sex rising or falling in United States?
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 data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Deaths drug use disorders by sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Deaths drug use disorders by sex in United States. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 11 November 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/deaths-drug-use-disorders-by-sex/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Deaths drug use disorders by sex
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