Mental health and substance use disorders deaths in Ireland

Ireland: Mental health and substance use disorders deaths was 342.64 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
342.64 deaths
Change on year
down 19.6%
World rank
73rd
of 194 countries
All-time high
426.02 deaths
in 2020
All-time low
186.66 deaths
in 2003
Years of data
22
2000–2021

Mental health and substance use disorders deaths in Ireland, 2000–2021

01002003004002000201020212000: 205.7 deaths2001: 213.2 deaths2002: 202.2 deaths2003: 186.7 deaths2004: 225.5 deaths2005: 206.2 deaths2006: 225.6 deaths2007: 295 deaths2008: 285.4 deaths2009: 309.6 deaths2010: 273.1 deaths2011: 243.6 deaths2012: 256.3 deaths2013: 277.4 deaths2014: 260.6 deaths2015: 257.8 deaths2016: 247.7 deaths2017: 264.3 deaths2018: 313 deaths2019: 285.1 deaths2020: 426 deaths2021: 342.6 deaths

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

Analysis

In 2021, mental health and substance use disorders deaths in Ireland stood at 342.64 deaths.

The figure is down 19.6% on the previous year and up 40.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, mental health and substance use disorders deaths in Ireland peaked at 426.02 deaths in 2020 and was at its lowest, 186.66 deaths, in 2003.

Ireland ranks 73rd of 194 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.

Mental health and substance use disorders deaths in Ireland, year by year

Annual values for Mental health and substance use disorders deaths in Ireland, 2000 to 2021.
Year deaths Change
2000 205.65 deaths
2001 213.15 deaths +3.6%
2002 202.22 deaths -5.1%
2003 186.66 deaths -7.7%
2004 225.52 deaths +20.8%
2005 206.22 deaths -8.6%
2006 225.58 deaths +9.4%
2007 295.02 deaths +30.8%
2008 285.36 deaths -3.3%
2009 309.6 deaths +8.5%
2010 273.14 deaths -11.8%
2011 243.57 deaths -10.8%
2012 256.3 deaths +5.2%
2013 277.41 deaths +8.2%
2014 260.57 deaths -6.1%
2015 257.83 deaths -1.1%
2016 247.67 deaths -3.9%
2017 264.29 deaths +6.7%
2018 313 deaths +18.4%
2019 285.1 deaths -8.9%
2020 426.02 deaths +49.4%
2021 342.64 deaths -19.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 235.5 deaths 186.66 deaths 309.6 deaths 10
2010s 267.89 deaths 243.57 deaths 313 deaths 10
2020s 384.33 deaths 342.64 deaths 426.02 deaths 2

Countries ranked near Ireland

  1. 70 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 360.46 deaths compare
  2. 71 Malawi 354.4 deaths compare
  3. 72 Rwanda 350.57 deaths compare
  4. 74 Zambia 334.88 deaths compare
  5. 75 Ghana 332.12 deaths compare
  6. 76 Sri Lanka 318.4 deaths compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More health data for Ireland

All data for Ireland →

Frequently asked questions

What is mental health and substance use disorders deaths in Ireland?
Mental health and substance use disorders deaths in Ireland was 342.64 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest mental health and substance use disorders deaths recorded in Ireland?
The highest recorded value was 426.02 deaths in 2020.
What is the lowest mental health and substance use disorders deaths recorded in Ireland?
The lowest recorded value was 186.66 deaths in 2003.
How does Ireland rank for mental health and substance use disorders deaths?
Ireland ranks 73rd out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
Is mental health and substance use disorders deaths rising or falling in Ireland?
Over the last ten years it is up 40.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Ireland data come from?
The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Mental health and substance use disorders deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Mental health and substance use disorders deaths in Ireland. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/deaths-from-mental-health-and-substance-use-disorders-who/ireland/

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About this data

Indicator
Mental health and substance use disorders deaths
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 mental and substance use disorders in both sexes.