Drug use disorder deaths by age in Australia

Australia: Drug use disorder deaths by age was 54.11 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
54.11 deaths
Change on year
up 47.6%
World rank
20th
of 194 countries
All-time high
56.61 deaths
in 2013
All-time low
15.76 deaths
in 2002
Years of data
22
2000–2021

Drug use disorder deaths by age in Australia, 2000–2021

20304050602000201020212000: 18.8 deaths2001: 24.4 deaths2002: 15.8 deaths2003: 35.4 deaths2004: 42.8 deaths2005: 39.7 deaths2006: 55.3 deaths2007: 44 deaths2008: 52.9 deaths2009: 50 deaths2010: 45 deaths2011: 46.7 deaths2012: 42.7 deaths2013: 56.6 deaths2014: 47.7 deaths2015: 46.5 deaths2016: 38.6 deaths2017: 48.6 deaths2018: 46.7 deaths2019: 33.7 deaths2020: 36.7 deaths2021: 54.1 deaths

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

Analysis

Australia recorded 54.11 deaths for drug use disorder deaths by age in 2021.

The figure is up 47.6% on the previous year and up 15.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, drug use disorder deaths by age in Australia peaked at 56.61 deaths in 2013 and was at its lowest, 15.76 deaths, in 2002.

Australia ranks 20th 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 age in Australia, year by year

Annual values for Drug use disorder deaths by age in Australia, 2000 to 2021.
Year deaths Change
2000 18.75 deaths
2001 24.42 deaths +30.2%
2002 15.76 deaths -35.5%
2003 35.36 deaths +124.4%
2004 42.75 deaths +20.9%
2005 39.68 deaths -7.2%
2006 55.26 deaths +39.3%
2007 43.97 deaths -20.4%
2008 52.9 deaths +20.3%
2009 49.98 deaths -5.5%
2010 45 deaths -10.0%
2011 46.67 deaths +3.7%
2012 42.68 deaths -8.5%
2013 56.61 deaths +32.6%
2014 47.66 deaths -15.8%
2015 46.55 deaths -2.3%
2016 38.58 deaths -17.1%
2017 48.6 deaths +26.0%
2018 46.73 deaths -3.8%
2019 33.72 deaths -27.8%
2020 36.67 deaths +8.7%
2021 54.11 deaths +47.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 37.88 deaths 15.76 deaths 55.26 deaths 10
2010s 45.28 deaths 33.72 deaths 56.61 deaths 10
2020s 45.39 deaths 36.67 deaths 54.11 deaths 2

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 17 Brazil 73.57 deaths compare
  2. 18 South Africa 67.99 deaths compare
  3. 19 Japan 59.36 deaths compare
  4. 21 Poland 53.56 deaths compare
  5. 22 Algeria 47.43 deaths compare
  6. 23 Morocco 44.58 deaths compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More health data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is drug use disorder deaths by age in Australia?
Drug use disorder deaths by age in Australia was 54.11 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 age recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 56.61 deaths in 2013.
What is the lowest drug use disorder deaths by age recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 15.76 deaths in 2002.
How does Australia rank for drug use disorder deaths by age?
Australia ranks 20th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
Is drug use disorder deaths by age rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is up 15.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Australia 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 age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Drug use disorder deaths by age in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 29 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/deaths-from-drug-use-disorders-by-age-who/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
Drug use disorder deaths by age
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 among both sexes aged 70+ year olds.