Drug use disorder deaths by age in South Africa
South Africa: Drug use disorder deaths by age was 67.99 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Drug use disorder deaths by age in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 67.99 deaths for drug use disorder deaths by age in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 29.9% on the previous year and up 11.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drug use disorder deaths by age in South Africa peaked at 96.94 deaths in 2020 and was at its lowest, 46.8 deaths, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 18th 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 South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 46.8 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 47.19 deaths | +0.8% |
| 2002 | 54.73 deaths | +16.0% |
| 2003 | 52.62 deaths | -3.9% |
| 2004 | 51.74 deaths | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 49.45 deaths | -4.4% |
| 2006 | 50.78 deaths | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 48.8 deaths | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 51.2 deaths | +4.9% |
| 2009 | 53.19 deaths | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 58.44 deaths | +9.9% |
| 2011 | 61.27 deaths | +4.8% |
| 2012 | 64.73 deaths | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 67.43 deaths | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 72.66 deaths | +7.8% |
| 2015 | 76.2 deaths | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 79.06 deaths | +3.8% |
| 2017 | 79.79 deaths | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 82.26 deaths | +3.1% |
| 2019 | 83.04 deaths | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 96.94 deaths | +16.7% |
| 2021 | 67.99 deaths | -29.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 50.65 deaths | 46.8 deaths | 54.73 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 72.49 deaths | 58.44 deaths | 83.04 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 82.47 deaths | 67.99 deaths | 96.94 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
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)
- Population ages 50-54, male, annual growth rate 2.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per capita 0.0221 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate 0.8639 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per capita 0.0217 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is drug use disorder deaths by age in South Africa?
- Drug use disorder deaths by age in South Africa was 67.99 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 96.94 deaths in 2020.
- What is the lowest drug use disorder deaths by age recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 46.8 deaths in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for drug use disorder deaths by age?
- South Africa ranks 18th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is drug use disorder deaths by age rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.0%. 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 age. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from drug use disorders among both sexes aged 70+ year olds.