Deaths opioid overdoses by sex in United States

United States: Deaths opioid overdoses by sex was 24,856 in 2021. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2021)
24,856
Change on year
up 17.3%
World rank
1st
of 194 countries
All-time high
24,856
in 2021
All-time low
2,838
in 2000
Years of data
22
2000–2021

Deaths opioid overdoses by sex in United States, 2000–2021

5.0k10.0k15.0k20.0k25.0k2000201020212000: 2.8k2001: 3.3k2002: 4.3k2003: 5.0k2004: 5.6k2005: 6.3k2006: 7.3k2007: 7.9k2008: 8.2k2009: 8.7k2010: 9.3k2011: 10.2k2012: 10.3k2013: 11.0k2014: 11.9k2015: 13.0k2016: 15.1k2017: 16.6k2018: 15.9k2019: 16.3k2020: 21.2k2021: 24.9k

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for deaths opioid overdoses by sex in United States is 24,856, 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, deaths opioid overdoses by sex in United States peaked at 24,856 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 2,838, in 2000.

United States 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.

Deaths opioid overdoses by sex in United States, year by year

Annual values for Deaths opioid overdoses by sex in United States, 2000 to 2021.
Year Value Change
2000 2,838 —
2001 3,251 +14.5%
2002 4,287 +31.9%
2003 5,000 +16.6%
2004 5,643 +12.9%
2005 6,327 +12.1%
2006 7,329 +15.8%
2007 7,949 +8.5%
2008 8,225 +3.5%
2009 8,686 +5.6%
2010 9,283 +6.9%
2011 10,160 +9.4%
2012 10,297 +1.4%
2013 10,973 +6.6%
2014 11,889 +8.3%
2015 12,994 +9.3%
2016 15,106 +16.3%
2017 16,631 +10.1%
2018 15,874 -4.6%
2019 16,298 +2.7%
2020 21,184 +30.0%
2021 24,856 +17.3%

United States compared with similar countries

  • United States's 24,856 is above the median for high income countries, which is 11.94, 2081.8× the median. (63 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 5,953 2,838 8,686 10
2010s 12,951 9,283 16,631 10
2020s 23,020 21,184 24,856 2

Countries ranked near United States

  1. 2 India 1,811 compare
  2. 3 Canada 1,428 compare
  3. 4 United Kingdom 1,192 compare

See the full ranking of 194 places →

More health data for United States

All data for United States →

Frequently asked questions

What is deaths opioid overdoses by sex in United States?
Deaths opioid overdoses by sex in United States was 24,856 in 2021, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest deaths opioid overdoses by sex recorded in United States?
The highest recorded value was 24,856 in 2021.
What is the lowest deaths opioid overdoses by sex recorded in United States?
The lowest recorded value was 2,838 in 2000.
How does United States rank for deaths opioid overdoses by sex?
United States ranks 1st out of 194 countries with data for 2021.
Is deaths opioid overdoses by sex rising or falling in United States?
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 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 United States. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 11 November 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/deaths-opioid-overdoses-by-sex/united-states/

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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