Alcohol and drug use disorders deaths in Canada
Canada: Alcohol and drug use disorders deaths was 8,839 deaths in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Alcohol and drug use disorders deaths in Canada, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
In 2021, alcohol and drug use disorders deaths in Canada stood at 8,839 deaths. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of up 11.9% on the previous year and up 257.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, alcohol and drug use disorders deaths in Canada peaked at 8,839 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1,635 deaths, in 2000.
Canada ranks 6th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Alcohol and drug use disorders deaths in Canada, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1,635 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 1,717 deaths | +5.0% |
| 2002 | 1,815 deaths | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 1,657 deaths | -8.7% |
| 2004 | 1,771 deaths | +6.8% |
| 2005 | 1,861 deaths | +5.1% |
| 2006 | 1,969 deaths | +5.8% |
| 2007 | 2,125 deaths | +7.9% |
| 2008 | 2,217 deaths | +4.3% |
| 2009 | 2,259 deaths | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 2,337 deaths | +3.5% |
| 2011 | 2,474 deaths | +5.9% |
| 2012 | 2,660 deaths | +7.5% |
| 2013 | 2,769 deaths | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 3,086 deaths | +11.4% |
| 2015 | 3,471 deaths | +12.5% |
| 2016 | 4,572 deaths | +31.7% |
| 2017 | 5,803 deaths | +26.9% |
| 2018 | 6,167 deaths | +6.3% |
| 2019 | 5,613 deaths | -9.0% |
| 2020 | 7,900 deaths | +40.8% |
| 2021 | 8,839 deaths | +11.9% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 8,839 deaths is above the median for high income countries, which is 282.36 deaths, 31.3× the median. (63 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Alcohol and drug use disorders deaths in Canada changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +40.8% | 5,613 deaths | 7,900 deaths |
| 2016 | +31.7% | 3,471 deaths | 4,572 deaths |
| 2017 | +26.9% | 4,572 deaths | 5,803 deaths |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1,903 deaths | 1,635 deaths | 2,259 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 3,895 deaths | 2,337 deaths | 6,167 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 8,370 deaths | 7,900 deaths | 8,839 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More health data for Canada
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.79 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.3588 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,083 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 385 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.5214 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.023 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.5024 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is alcohol and drug use disorders deaths in Canada?
- Alcohol and drug use disorders deaths in Canada was 8,839 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest alcohol and drug use disorders deaths recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 8,839 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest alcohol and drug use disorders deaths recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,635 deaths in 2000.
- How does Canada rank for alcohol and drug use disorders deaths?
- Canada ranks 6th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is alcohol and drug use disorders deaths rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 257.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Alcohol and drug use disorders deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 22 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated number of deaths from substance use disorders in both sexes.