Mental health and substance use disorders deaths in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Mental health and substance use disorders deaths was 7,562 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Mental health and substance use disorders deaths in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mental health and substance use disorders deaths in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 7,562 deaths, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.8% on the previous year and up 116.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mental health and substance use disorders deaths in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 7,562 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2,861 deaths, in 2003.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 8th 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.
Mental health and substance use disorders deaths in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3,043 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 3,303 deaths | +8.5% |
| 2002 | 3,063 deaths | -7.2% |
| 2003 | 2,861 deaths | -6.6% |
| 2004 | 3,100 deaths | +8.4% |
| 2005 | 3,204 deaths | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 3,150 deaths | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 3,466 deaths | +10.0% |
| 2008 | 3,811 deaths | +10.0% |
| 2009 | 3,703 deaths | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 3,809 deaths | +2.9% |
| 2011 | 3,500 deaths | -8.1% |
| 2012 | 3,512 deaths | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 3,823 deaths | +8.9% |
| 2014 | 4,476 deaths | +17.1% |
| 2015 | 4,888 deaths | +9.2% |
| 2016 | 5,190 deaths | +6.2% |
| 2017 | 5,339 deaths | +2.9% |
| 2018 | 6,449 deaths | +20.8% |
| 2019 | 6,423 deaths | -0.4% |
| 2020 | 6,951 deaths | +8.2% |
| 2021 | 7,562 deaths | +8.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 3,270 deaths | 2,861 deaths | 3,811 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,741 deaths | 3,500 deaths | 6,449 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,257 deaths | 6,951 deaths | 7,562 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More health data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is mental health and substance use disorders deaths in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Mental health and substance use disorders deaths in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 7,562 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 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 7,562 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest mental health and substance use disorders deaths recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,861 deaths in 2003.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for mental health and substance use disorders deaths?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 8th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is mental health and substance use disorders deaths rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 116.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern 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.
Download this data
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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from mental and substance use disorders in both sexes.