Drug use disorder deaths by age in United States of America
United States of America: Drug use disorder deaths by age was 1,984 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Drug use disorder deaths by age 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 1,984 deaths for drug use disorder deaths by age in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
The figure is up 24.9% on the previous year and up 183.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, drug use disorder deaths by age in United States of America peaked at 1,984 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 411.06 deaths, in 2001.
That places United States of America 1st out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it 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 United States of America, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 414.34 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 411.06 deaths | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 479.46 deaths | +16.6% |
| 2003 | 488.8 deaths | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 501.04 deaths | +2.5% |
| 2005 | 522.27 deaths | +4.2% |
| 2006 | 604.6 deaths | +15.8% |
| 2007 | 612.27 deaths | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 628.42 deaths | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 700.21 deaths | +11.4% |
| 2010 | 666.01 deaths | -4.9% |
| 2011 | 700.98 deaths | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 729.18 deaths | +4.0% |
| 2013 | 765.79 deaths | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 862.11 deaths | +12.6% |
| 2015 | 888.95 deaths | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 904.58 deaths | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 1,032 deaths | +14.1% |
| 2018 | 1,183 deaths | +14.7% |
| 2019 | 1,342 deaths | +13.4% |
| 2020 | 1,589 deaths | +18.4% |
| 2021 | 1,984 deaths | +24.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 536.25 deaths | 411.06 deaths | 700.21 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 907.55 deaths | 666.01 deaths | 1,342 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,786 deaths | 1,589 deaths | 1,984 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 65-69, male, annual growth rate 1.9 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.028 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 3.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.0251 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is drug use disorder deaths by age in United States of America?
- Drug use disorder deaths by age in United States of America was 1,984 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 United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 1,984 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest drug use disorder deaths by age recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 411.06 deaths in 2001.
- How does United States of America rank for drug use disorder deaths by age?
- United States of America ranks 1st out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is drug use disorder deaths by age rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 183.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 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.