Opioid use disorder deaths by sex in South Africa

South Africa: Opioid use disorder deaths by sex was 423.01 deaths in 2021. ▲ Rising

Latest (2021)
423.01 deaths
Change on year
up 14.0%
World rank
8th
of 194 countries
All-time high
423.01 deaths
in 2021
All-time low
155.51 deaths
in 2000
Years of data
22
2000–2021

Opioid use disorder deaths by sex in South Africa, 2000–2021

01002003004002000201020212000: 155.5 deaths2001: 156.4 deaths2002: 214.6 deaths2003: 253.4 deaths2004: 249.2 deaths2005: 229.1 deaths2006: 236.6 deaths2007: 252.5 deaths2008: 327.3 deaths2009: 327 deaths2010: 399.8 deaths2011: 371.5 deaths2012: 345.4 deaths2013: 328 deaths2014: 330.3 deaths2015: 321.2 deaths2016: 302.6 deaths2017: 287.4 deaths2018: 303.5 deaths2019: 323.7 deaths2020: 371.1 deaths2021: 423 deaths

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for opioid use disorder deaths by sex in South Africa is 423.01 deaths, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.

That represents a change of up 14.0% on the previous year and up 13.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, opioid use disorder deaths by sex in South Africa peaked at 423.01 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 155.51 deaths, in 2000.

South Africa 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.

Opioid use disorder deaths by sex in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Opioid use disorder deaths by sex in South Africa, 2000 to 2021.
Year deaths Change
2000 155.51 deaths
2001 156.44 deaths +0.6%
2002 214.61 deaths +37.2%
2003 253.39 deaths +18.1%
2004 249.19 deaths -1.7%
2005 229.13 deaths -8.1%
2006 236.63 deaths +3.3%
2007 252.49 deaths +6.7%
2008 327.33 deaths +29.6%
2009 326.96 deaths -0.1%
2010 399.78 deaths +22.3%
2011 371.53 deaths -7.1%
2012 345.37 deaths -7.0%
2013 327.96 deaths -5.0%
2014 330.34 deaths +0.7%
2015 321.19 deaths -2.8%
2016 302.56 deaths -5.8%
2017 287.37 deaths -5.0%
2018 303.47 deaths +5.6%
2019 323.74 deaths +6.7%
2020 371.12 deaths +14.6%
2021 423.01 deaths +14.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 240.17 deaths 155.51 deaths 327.33 deaths 10
2010s 331.33 deaths 287.37 deaths 399.78 deaths 10
2020s 397.06 deaths 371.12 deaths 423.01 deaths 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 5 China 1,119 deaths compare
  2. 6 Russian Federation 817.8 deaths compare
  3. 7 France 573.27 deaths compare
  4. 9 Germany 293.01 deaths compare
  5. 10 Iran, Islamic Republic of 266.68 deaths compare
  6. 11 Viet Nam 255.27 deaths compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More health data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is opioid use disorder deaths by sex in South Africa?
Opioid use disorder deaths by sex in South Africa was 423.01 deaths in 2021, according to World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest opioid use disorder deaths by sex recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 423.01 deaths in 2021.
What is the lowest opioid use disorder deaths by sex recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 155.51 deaths in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for opioid use disorder deaths by sex?
South Africa ranks 8th out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
Is opioid use disorder deaths by sex rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 13.9%. 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 Opioid use disorder deaths by sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Opioid use disorder deaths by sex in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 08 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/deaths-opioid-overdoses-by-sex/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Opioid use disorder deaths by sex
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

Estimated number of deaths from opioid use disorders in females.