Alcohol accounts for 178,000 deaths each year in the United States. Rates differ sharply by age, gender, and region. The data shows how liver disease, injuries, and other causes shape the totals.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, men had 2-3 times higher alcohol death rates globally than women
- UK had 9,641 alcohol-specific deaths in 2022, rate of 14.3 per 100,000
- In 2019, an estimated 2.6 million deaths worldwide were attributable to alcohol consumption, representing 4.7% of all global deaths among people aged 15–49 years
- US alcohol-related deaths increased 25.5% from 2019 to 2020 alone
- In 2021, alcohol was linked to 178,000 deaths in the US, with 43% from chronic causes and 57% acute
Alcohol-related deaths remain a serious public health concern, highlighting the need for continued prevention and support.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographics And Causes23 stats
01
In 2022, men had 2-3 times higher alcohol death rates globally than women
02
US adults aged 35-50 had highest alcohol death rate 2020-2021 at 50+ per 100,000
03
Liver cirrhosis caused 50% of chronic alcohol deaths in US 2021
04
Globally, 15-24 year olds suffer 9% of alcohol deaths despite low consumption
05
In UK, 75% of alcohol deaths among 40-59 year olds in 2022
06
Alcohol crashes kill 25% more males than females globally
07
US Hispanics had 17.6% rise in alcohol deaths 2019-2020
08
Cardiovascular diseases account for 19% of global alcohol deaths
09
In Europe, 60% alcohol deaths from liver disease in men over 50
10
Binge drinking causes 50% of US alcohol deaths, mostly acute injuries
11
Globally, cancers represent 13% of alcohol-attributable deaths, highest in women
12
US AI/AN populations have 2x alcohol liver death rate vs. whites
13
Injuries cause 27% global alcohol deaths, peaking in 25-34 males
14
In Scotland, 80% alcohol deaths deprivation-linked
15
Alcohol poisoning deaths 90% among 35-64 year olds in US
16
Digestive diseases 14% of global alcohol deaths, mostly cirrhosis
17
Rural US residents 20% more likely to die from alcohol vs. urban
18
Mental health disorders link to 5% alcohol deaths via suicide
19
In France, 70% alcohol deaths male, 50% liver-related
20
US working-age adults 75% of binge-related deaths
21
Infectious diseases 5% global alcohol deaths, HIV/TB highest
22
Women globally have higher % alcohol breast cancer deaths
23
UK deprived areas 3x alcohol death rate vs. affluent
Interpretation
Demographics And Causes Interpretation
Across demographics and causes, alcohol harm is both sex and age specific with men facing 2 to 3 times higher death rates than women globally and adults aged 35 to 50 in the US reaching 50 plus deaths per 100,000 in 2020 to 2021, while liver cirrhosis accounts for 50% of chronic alcohol deaths in the US in 2021 and alcohol-related crashes kill 25% more males than females worldwide.
02 · Category
Europe26 stats
01
UK had 9,641 alcohol-specific deaths in 2022, rate of 14.3 per 100,000
02
England saw alcohol-specific deaths rise to 5,681 in 2022, 70% male
03
Scotland recorded 1,277 alcohol deaths in 2022, highest since 2012 at 22.6 per 100,000
04
In 2021, Europe had 1.2 million alcohol deaths, 23% of global total
05
Germany reported 74,000 alcohol-attributable deaths in 2018
06
France had 49,000 alcohol deaths in 2019, rate 74 per 100,000
07
Russia saw 51,000 alcohol deaths in 2021, down from 80,000 in 2000s
08
In 2022, Lithuania had EU's highest alcohol death rate at 48.3 per 100,000
09
EU alcohol-specific deaths totaled 55,000 in 2021
10
Poland recorded 7,500 alcohol deaths in 2022, rate 20 per 100,000
11
In 2021, Ireland had 1,026 alcohol deaths, 74% male
12
Sweden's alcohol deaths were 1,114 in 2022, stable from prior years
13
Hungary had 2,800 alcohol deaths in 2021, rate 29 per 100,000
14
In 2022, Latvia alcohol death rate was 39.5 per 100,000, second highest in EU
15
Finland saw 1,620 alcohol deaths in 2022
16
Italy reported 20,000 alcohol-attributable deaths yearly
17
In 2021, Romania had 3,200 alcohol deaths, rate 17 per 100,000
18
Bulgaria's alcohol death rate was 25.6 per 100,000 in 2021
19
Spain had 7,000 alcohol deaths in 2019
20
Netherlands alcohol-specific deaths reached 1,500 in 2022
21
In 2022, Czechia had 2,100 alcohol deaths, rate 20 per 100,000
22
Portugal recorded 1,200 alcohol deaths in 2021
23
Austria saw 1,800 alcohol-attributable deaths in 2020
24
In 2021, Denmark had 1,000 alcohol deaths, rate 17 per 100,000
25
Belgium reported 1,400 alcohol deaths in 2022
26
Greece had 1,100 alcohol-specific deaths in 2021
Interpretation
Europe Interpretation
Across Europe, alcohol-related mortality remains a major health burden with 1.2 million deaths in 2021 accounting for 23% of the global total, while country-level figures show how the problem varies sharply, such as the UK’s 9,641 alcohol-specific deaths in 2022 and Scotland reaching 1,277 deaths in 2022 at the highest rate since 2012.
03 · Category
Global30 stats
01
In 2019, an estimated 2.6 million deaths worldwide were attributable to alcohol consumption, representing 4.7% of all global deaths among people aged 15–49 years
02
Globally, alcohol caused 401,000 deaths from cardiovascular diseases in 2019, accounting for 7.1% of all alcohol-attributable deaths
03
In 2019, 724,000 cancer deaths worldwide were linked to alcohol, making up 13% of total alcohol-related fatalities
04
Alcohol contributed to 398,000 deaths from digestive diseases globally in 2019, representing 7.1% of alcohol-attributable deaths
05
Worldwide, 207,000 deaths from alcohol use disorders occurred in 2019, comprising 3.7% of all alcohol-related deaths
06
In 2016, alcohol was responsible for 3 million deaths globally, or 5.3% of all deaths, with 2.3 million among men
07
Globally, 156 million DALYs were lost due to alcohol in 2016, with 106 million from men
08
Alcohol-attributable cancers caused 401,000 deaths worldwide in 2016
09
In 2019, Eastern Mediterranean Region had the lowest alcohol-attributable death rate at 2.6 per 100,000
10
Globally, 50% of alcohol-attributable deaths in 2016 were from non-communicable diseases
11
Alcohol caused 1.3 million road traffic deaths worldwide between 2012-2019 cumulatively
12
In low-income countries, alcohol death rates are 2.3 times higher than in high-income countries per capita
13
Globally, heavy episodic drinking led to 237,000 deaths in 2016
14
Alcohol-attributable tuberculosis deaths numbered 75,000 worldwide in 2016
15
In 2019, 2 million deaths from alcohol were among men, 600,000 among women globally
16
Worldwide hazardous drinking caused 585,000 deaths in 2016
17
Alcohol led to 13.5% of deaths among 20-39 year olds globally in 2016
18
Globally, 27.8% of alcohol deaths in 2019 were from injuries
19
Alcohol-attributable HIV/AIDS deaths were 30,000 worldwide in 2016
20
In 2019, European Region had the highest alcohol death rate at 52.9 per 100,000 population
21
Globally, alcohol caused 1.6 million liver disease deaths in 2019
22
Worldwide, 48% of alcohol deaths occur in the WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions combined
23
Alcohol-attributable road injury deaths were 298,000 globally in 2016
24
In 2016, alcohol caused 99,000 deaths from self-harm worldwide
25
Globally, former drinkers have 1.6 times higher alcohol-attributable death risk than lifetime abstainers
26
Alcohol led to 2.5% of global disease burden in DALYs in 2016
27
Worldwide, 3% of cancers are attributable to alcohol consumption annually
28
In 2019, alcohol caused 132,000 deaths from intentional injuries globally
29
Globally, men account for 75-80% of alcohol-attributable deaths
30
Alcohol-related deaths peaked at 3 million globally in 2016 before slight decline
Interpretation
Global Interpretation
For the Global picture, alcohol was behind 2.6 million deaths worldwide in 2019, about 4.7% of all global deaths, showing that its impact is substantial across the world and not limited to a single cause, since it also accounted for 724,000 cancer deaths and 401,000 cardiovascular deaths that year.
More related reading
04 · Category
Trends And Projections23 stats
01
US alcohol-related deaths increased 25.5% from 2019 to 2020 alone
02
Globally, alcohol deaths projected to reach 3.5 million by 2030 without intervention
03
UK alcohol deaths rose 38% from 6,990 in 2012 to 9,641 in 2022
04
US chronic alcohol deaths up 26.4% 2016-2020 to 49,029
05
In Europe, alcohol death rates fell 30% from 2000-2021 in some countries
06
Global alcohol consumption expected to rise 20% by 2025 in low/middle-income countries
07
Russia alcohol deaths declined 40% from 2003 peak of 85,000 to 51,000 in 2021
08
US binge drinking prevalence stable but deaths up 20% 2016-2021
09
Scotland alcohol deaths increased 11% from 2021 to 2022, reversing prior declines
10
Globally, alcohol DALYs decreased 10% 1990-2016 but absolute numbers rose
11
EU alcohol-specific death rate dropped 15% 2012-2022 to 11.5 per 100,000
12
US alcohol deaths projected to exceed 200,000 annually by 2025 if trends continue
13
France alcohol deaths stable at 49,000/year but liver cirrhosis down 20% since 2000
14
Global heavy drinking deaths fell 5% 2010-2019
15
US non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native alcohol deaths rose 48% 2016-2020
16
UK liver disease deaths from alcohol up 400% since 1970
17
COVID-19 pandemic saw 25% spike in US alcohol sales correlating with death rise
18
Germany alcohol deaths increased 10% 2017-2019 to 74,000
19
Global alcohol policy score improved 6% 2010-2016, averting 1 million deaths
20
Finland alcohol deaths halved since 2007 peak due to tax hikes
21
US women alcohol deaths rose 85% 2012-2020 vs. 40% for men
22
Eastern Europe alcohol deaths declined 50% 2005-2020 post-policy changes
23
Projected global alcohol deaths without action: +10% by 2030 in Africa/Asia
Interpretation
Trends And Projections Interpretation
In the trends and projections outlook, alcohol harms are expected to keep climbing in key places such as the US where deaths jumped 25.5% from 2019 to 2020 and chronic deaths rose 26.4% from 2016 to 2020, even as some regions like parts of Europe saw rates drop by 30% from 2000 to 2021.
05 · Category
United States28 stats
01
In 2021, alcohol was linked to 178,000 deaths in the US, with 43% from chronic causes and 57% acute
02
US alcohol-induced deaths rose 29.3% from 78,927 in 2016 to 102,168 in 2020
03
In 2020, 49,029 alcohol-induced deaths occurred among US males aged 25+
04
Alcohol contributed to 13.0% of all US deaths in 2020-2021 among adults 16+
05
From 2020-2021, alcohol-related deaths increased 29.6% in the US to 178,000 annually
06
In 2021, chronic alcohol use caused 108,791 deaths in the US, up 29.6% from 2016-2017 average
07
US alcohol-impaired driving fatalities totaled 13,384 in 2021, 31% of all traffic deaths
08
In 2020, 140,000 Americans died from excessive alcohol use, shortening 4 million life years
09
Alcohol played a role in 1 in 5 US overdose deaths in 2021 (46,000 deaths)
10
From 2015-2019, alcohol caused 695,000 deaths in the US, averaging 140,000 per year
11
In 2020, New Mexico had the highest alcohol-induced death rate at 25.6 per 100,000 US population
12
US binge drinking led to 178,000 deaths annually 2020-2021, cost $249B in 2010
13
Alcohol caused 72,000 deaths among US working-age adults (16-65) in 2020-2021
14
In 2021, liver disease from alcohol killed 43,000 Americans
15
US alcohol-related emergency visits reached 1.9 million in 2022
16
From 1999-2017, alcohol overdose deaths tripled to 2,966 in the US
17
In 2020, 21,000 US deaths from alcohol poisoning alone
18
Alcohol misuse caused $28.3 billion in workplace costs in the US in 2010
19
US veterans had 2.3 times higher alcohol-attributable death rate in 2020-2021
20
In 2021, 40% of US criminal violence involved alcohol
21
Alcohol-related liver disease deaths surged 50% in US 1999-2016
22
In 2020, Black Americans saw 48.4% rise in alcohol deaths vs. 20% for whites
23
US young adults 25-34 had highest alcohol death rate 2020-2021 at 92 per 100,000
24
Alcohol caused 10,142 US motor vehicle crash deaths in 2022
25
In 2019, 95,000 US deaths from excessive alcohol, 68% male
26
US rural areas had 36% higher alcohol death rates than urban in 2020
27
Alcohol-attributable cancers caused 20,000 US deaths yearly
28
In 2021, binge drinking caused half of US alcohol deaths
Interpretation
United States Interpretation
In the United States, alcohol-related deaths climbed sharply from 78,927 in 2016 to 102,168 in 2020 and then reached about 178,000 annually in 2021, showing that alcohol is driving a rapidly growing burden of both acute and chronic harm.
report visual · Key figures
Alcohol-related deaths: peak and recent changes
Alcohol-related deaths peaked globally in 2016 and show mixed movement afterward, with notable increases in the US around 2019–2021.
3
Alcohol-related deaths peaked at 3 million globally in 2016 before slight decline
29.6%
From 2020-2021, alcohol-related deaths increased 29.6% in the US to 178,000 annually
25.5%
US alcohol-related deaths increased 25.5% from 2019 to 2020 alone
11%
Scotland alcohol deaths increased 11% from 2021 to 2022, reversing prior declines
30%
In Europe, alcohol death rates fell 30% from 2000-2021 in some countries
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Felix Zimmermann. (2026, February 13). Alcohol Related Deaths Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/alcohol-related-deaths-statistics
MLA
Felix Zimmermann. "Alcohol Related Deaths Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/alcohol-related-deaths-statistics.
Chicago
Felix Zimmermann. 2026. "Alcohol Related Deaths Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/alcohol-related-deaths-statistics.
Sources & references
31 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level