Opioid use disorder deaths by sex in United States of America
United States of America: Opioid use disorder deaths by sex was 24,856 deaths in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Opioid use disorder deaths by sex in United States of America, 2000–2021
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 United States of America is 24,856 deaths, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 22 years on record.
That represents a change of up 17.3% on the previous year and up 144.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, opioid use disorder deaths by sex in United States of America peaked at 24,856 deaths in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2,838 deaths, in 2000.
United States of America ranks 1st 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.
Opioid use disorder deaths by sex in United States of America, year by year
| Year | deaths | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 2,838 deaths | — |
| 2001 | 3,251 deaths | +14.5% |
| 2002 | 4,287 deaths | +31.9% |
| 2003 | 5,000 deaths | +16.6% |
| 2004 | 5,643 deaths | +12.9% |
| 2005 | 6,327 deaths | +12.1% |
| 2006 | 7,329 deaths | +15.8% |
| 2007 | 7,949 deaths | +8.5% |
| 2008 | 8,225 deaths | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 8,686 deaths | +5.6% |
| 2010 | 9,283 deaths | +6.9% |
| 2011 | 10,160 deaths | +9.4% |
| 2012 | 10,297 deaths | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 10,973 deaths | +6.6% |
| 2014 | 11,889 deaths | +8.3% |
| 2015 | 12,994 deaths | +9.3% |
| 2016 | 15,106 deaths | +16.3% |
| 2017 | 16,631 deaths | +10.1% |
| 2018 | 15,874 deaths | -4.6% |
| 2019 | 16,298 deaths | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 21,184 deaths | +30.0% |
| 2021 | 24,856 deaths | +17.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5,953 deaths | 2,838 deaths | 8,686 deaths | 10 |
| 2010s | 12,951 deaths | 9,283 deaths | 16,631 deaths | 10 |
| 2020s | 23,020 deaths | 21,184 deaths | 24,856 deaths | 2 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More health data for United States of America
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.67 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1867 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,069 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,015 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 50-54, male, annual growth rate -1.54 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 50-54, male, per capita 0.03 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, annual growth rate -0.6615 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 55-59, female, per capita 0.0296 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is opioid use disorder deaths by sex in United States of America?
- Opioid use disorder deaths by sex in United States of America was 24,856 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 United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 24,856 deaths in 2021.
- What is the lowest opioid use disorder deaths by sex recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,838 deaths in 2000.
- How does United States of America rank for opioid use disorder deaths by sex?
- United States of America ranks 1st out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
- Is opioid use disorder deaths by sex rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 144.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States of America 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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About this data
Estimated number of deaths from opioid use disorders in females.