Deaths opioid overdoses by sex in Australia

Australia: Deaths opioid overdoses by sex was 137.4 in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
137.4
Change on year
down 4.6%
World rank
14th
of 192 countries
All-time high
158.53
in 2000
All-time low
65.09
in 2006
Years of data
22
2000–2021

Deaths opioid overdoses by sex in Australia, 2000–2021

0501001502000201020212000: 158.52001: 89.62002: 71.62003: 83.72004: 72.12005: 75.12006: 65.12007: 76.92008: 81.82009: 92.42010: 87.62011: 90.82012: 113.62013: 1042014: 125.72015: 123.62016: 137.72017: 137.52018: 145.12019: 143.82020: 1442021: 137.4

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

Australia recorded 137.4 for deaths opioid overdoses by sex in 2021.

The figure is down 4.6% on the previous year and up 51.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, deaths opioid overdoses by sex in Australia peaked at 158.53 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 65.09, in 2006.

That places Australia 14th out of 192 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.

Deaths opioid overdoses by sex in Australia, year by year

Annual values for Deaths opioid overdoses by sex in Australia, 2000 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2000 158.53
2001 89.58 -43.5%
2002 71.56 -20.1%
2003 83.69 +17.0%
2004 72.06 -13.9%
2005 75.12 +4.2%
2006 65.09 -13.4%
2007 76.91 +18.2%
2008 81.79 +6.3%
2009 92.38 +12.9%
2010 87.62 -5.2%
2011 90.85 +3.7%
2012 113.64 +25.1%
2013 103.95 -8.5%
2014 125.66 +20.9%
2015 123.56 -1.7%
2016 137.68 +11.4%
2017 137.47 -0.2%
2018 145.05 +5.5%
2019 143.81 -0.9%
2020 144.04 +0.2%
2021 137.4 -4.6%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 86.67 65.09 158.53 10
2010s 120.93 87.62 145.05 10
2020s 140.72 137.4 144.04 2

Countries ranked near Australia

  1. 11 Viet Nam 255.27 compare
  2. 12 Pakistan 241.7 compare
  3. 13 Spain 211.64 compare
  4. 15 Ukraine 131.32 compare
  5. 16 Italy 125.37 compare
  6. 17 Indonesia 119.35 compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More health data for Australia

All data for Australia →

Frequently asked questions

What is deaths opioid overdoses by sex in Australia?
Deaths opioid overdoses by sex in Australia was 137.4 in 2021, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest deaths opioid overdoses by sex recorded in Australia?
The highest recorded value was 158.53 in 2000.
What is the lowest deaths opioid overdoses by sex recorded in Australia?
The lowest recorded value was 65.09 in 2006.
How does Australia rank for deaths opioid overdoses by sex?
Australia ranks 14th out of 192 countries with data for 2021.
Is deaths opioid overdoses by sex rising or falling in Australia?
Over the last ten years it is up 51.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Australia data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Deaths opioid overdoses by sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Deaths opioid overdoses by sex in Australia. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/deaths-opioid-overdoses-by-sex/australia/

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About this data

Indicator
Deaths opioid overdoses by sex
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
194 places, 4,268 data points, 2000–2021
Last refreshed