Substance use disorder deaths in Denmark

Denmark: Substance use disorder deaths was 238.65 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
238.65 deaths
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
40th
of 194 countries
All-time high
264.96 deaths
in 2016
All-time low
139.78 deaths
in 2004
Years of data
22
2000–2021

Substance use disorder deaths in Denmark, 2000–2021

01002003002000201020212000: 190.6 deaths2001: 199.6 deaths2002: 151.8 deaths2003: 144.8 deaths2004: 139.8 deaths2005: 204.8 deaths2006: 208.6 deaths2007: 155 deaths2008: 208.3 deaths2009: 264.8 deaths2010: 234.3 deaths2011: 261.5 deaths2012: 196.3 deaths2013: 229.5 deaths2014: 218 deaths2015: 190.3 deaths2016: 265 deaths2017: 237.5 deaths2018: 225.9 deaths2019: 235.8 deaths2020: 236.2 deaths2021: 238.7 deaths

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

Analysis

Denmark recorded 238.65 deaths for substance use disorder deaths in 2021.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and down 8.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, substance use disorder deaths in Denmark peaked at 264.96 deaths in 2016 and was at its lowest, 139.78 deaths, in 2004.

That places Denmark 40th out of 194 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.

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

Substance use disorder deaths in Denmark, year by year

Annual values for Substance use disorder deaths in Denmark, 2000 to 2021.
Year deaths Change
2000 190.64 deaths —
2001 199.59 deaths +4.7%
2002 151.75 deaths -24.0%
2003 144.82 deaths -4.6%
2004 139.78 deaths -3.5%
2005 204.8 deaths +46.5%
2006 208.61 deaths +1.9%
2007 154.99 deaths -25.7%
2008 208.35 deaths +34.4%
2009 264.81 deaths +27.1%
2010 234.3 deaths -11.5%
2011 261.54 deaths +11.6%
2012 196.33 deaths -24.9%
2013 229.5 deaths +16.9%
2014 218 deaths -5.0%
2015 190.29 deaths -12.7%
2016 264.96 deaths +39.2%
2017 237.47 deaths -10.4%
2018 225.9 deaths -4.9%
2019 235.83 deaths +4.4%
2020 236.16 deaths +0.1%
2021 238.65 deaths +1.1%

Denmark compared with similar countries

  • Denmark's 238.65 deaths is above the median for high income countries, which is 49.5 deaths, 4.8× the median. (63 countries reporting)
  • Denmark's 238.65 deaths is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 87.21 deaths, 2.7× the median. (51 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 186.81 deaths 139.78 deaths 264.81 deaths 10
2010s 229.41 deaths 190.29 deaths 264.96 deaths 10
2020s 237.41 deaths 236.16 deaths 238.65 deaths 2

Countries ranked near Denmark

  1. 37 Poland 249.16 deaths compare
  2. 38 Switzerland 247.37 deaths compare
  3. 39 Ireland 242.54 deaths compare
  4. 41 Ethiopia 218.21 deaths compare
  5. 42 Guatemala 209.26 deaths compare
  6. 43 Thailand 206.47 deaths compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More health data for Denmark

All data for Denmark →

Frequently asked questions

What is substance use disorder deaths in Denmark?
Substance use disorder deaths in Denmark was 238.65 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest substance use disorder deaths recorded in Denmark?
The highest recorded value was 264.96 deaths in 2016.
What is the lowest substance use disorder deaths recorded in Denmark?
The lowest recorded value was 139.78 deaths in 2004.
How does Denmark rank for substance use disorder deaths?
Denmark ranks 40th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
Is substance use disorder deaths rising or falling in Denmark?
Over the last ten years it is down 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Denmark data come from?
The figures come from World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Substance use disorder deaths. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Substance use disorder deaths in Denmark. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 26 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/deaths-from-substance-use-disorders-who/denmark/

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About this data

Indicator
Substance use disorder 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

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