Substance use disorder deaths in South Africa
South Africa: Substance use disorder deaths was 1,204 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising
Substance use disorder deaths in South Africa, 2000–2021
Source: World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in deaths.
Analysis
The most recent figure for substance use disorder deaths in South Africa is 1,204 deaths, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.4% on the previous year and up 24.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, substance use disorder deaths in South Africa peaked at 1,204 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 543.77 deaths, in 2000.
That places South Africa 12th 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.
Substance use disorder deaths in South Africa, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 543.77 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 553.13 deaths | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 670.82 deaths | +21.3% |
| 2003 | 720.29 deaths | +7.4% |
| 2004 | 720.54 deaths | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 677.92 deaths | -5.9% |
| 2006 | 685.75 deaths | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 680.46 deaths | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 798.9 deaths | +17.4% |
| 2009 | 799.51 deaths | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 1,017 deaths | +27.2% |
| 2011 | 967.91 deaths | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 982.72 deaths | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 979.46 deaths | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 1,035 deaths | +5.7% |
| 2015 | 1,072 deaths | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 1,046 deaths | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 990.04 deaths | -5.3% |
| 2018 | 1,026 deaths | +3.6% |
| 2019 | 1,076 deaths | +4.9% |
| 2020 | 1,154 deaths | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 1,204 deaths | +4.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 685.11 deaths | 543.77 deaths | 799.51 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 1,019 deaths | 967.91 deaths | 1,076 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,179 deaths | 1,154 deaths | 1,204 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 0-14, female, annual growth rate 0.4769 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, female, per capita 0.1279 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, annual growth rate 0.5816 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 0-14, male, per capita 0.1293 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is substance use disorder deaths in South Africa?
- Substance use disorder deaths in South Africa was 1,204 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1,204 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest substance use disorder deaths recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 543.77 deaths in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for substance use disorder deaths?
- South Africa ranks 12th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is substance use disorder deaths rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa 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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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from drug use disorders in both sexes.