Who dies of alcohol use disorder?
In the median of the 36 countries that publish causes of death by age, 0.38% of men and 0.10% of women eventually die of alcohol use disorder. It is never the most likely cause of death for any one country, sex and age group — but it adds up over a lifetime.
This is one of the most preventable causes of death. If you or someone you love is struggling, free and confidential help is available — in the US and Canada call or text 988, in the UK call Samaritans on 116 123, anywhere else find a helpline at findahelpline.com.
The risk by age
Chance of dying of alcohol use disorder within 10 years, and its share of all the risk at that age — the median of 36 countries. Your own country's numbers are one click away on its page.
| Age | men | women |
|---|---|---|
| 15–19 | 0% (0% of the risk) | 0% (0% of the risk) |
| 20–24 | <0.01% (0.23% of the risk) | 0% (0% of the risk) |
| 25–29 | <0.01% (0.68% of the risk) | <0.01% (0.27% of the risk) |
| 30–34 | 0.01% (1.2% of the risk) | <0.01% (0.57% of the risk) |
| 35–39 | 0.03% (1.3% of the risk) | <0.01% (0.60% of the risk) |
| 40–44 | 0.04% (1.3% of the risk) | 0.01% (0.73% of the risk) |
| 45–49 | 0.05% (1.4% of the risk) | 0.01% (0.65% of the risk) |
| 50–54 | 0.08% (1.4% of the risk) | 0.02% (0.46% of the risk) |
| 55–59 | 0.12% (1.2% of the risk) | 0.02% (0.37% of the risk) |
| 60–64 | 0.14% (0.88% of the risk) | 0.03% (0.30% of the risk) |
| 65–69 | 0.12% (0.50% of the risk) | 0.02% (0.17% of the risk) |
| 70–74 | 0.09% (0.25% of the risk) | 0.02% (0.07% of the risk) |
| 75–79 | 0.07% (0.12% of the risk) | 0.01% (0.03% of the risk) |
| 80–84 | 0.03% (0.04% of the risk) | 0.01% (0.02% of the risk) |
| 85–89 | 0.03% (0.03% of the risk) | <0.01% (<0.01% of the risk) |
| 90–94 | 0.01% (0.01% of the risk) | <0.01% (<0.01% of the risk) |
Lifetime chance, men: highest and lowest countries
Lifetime chance, women: highest and lowest countries
What changes the odds
What you can do
- Cut down with alcohol-free days, and talk to your doctor — help is confidential and it works.
- If you drink heavily every day, don't stop suddenly on your own: withdrawal can be dangerous, and doctors can help you stop safely.
What the evidence says
- A short conversation with a doctor or nurse helps people drink about 2 drinks a week less a year later. — Cochrane review, 2018 (34 trials, 15,197 people)
Act fast: Shaking, sweating, confusion or seeing things after stopping drinking: get urgent medical help.
Sources: NHS: Alcohol misuse; WHO: Alcohol (fact sheet); Kaner EF et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018;CD004148. General guidance, not medical advice.
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Related: Drug use disorder · Other mental health conditions · Suicide
Questions
- At what age is alcohol use disorder most likely to be the cause of death?
- For men, alcohol use disorder takes its largest share of deaths at 45–49: 1.4% of the risk of dying in the next 10 years, in the median of the 36 countries that publish causes of death by age.
- Which country has the highest risk of dying of alcohol use disorder?
- Of the 36 countries that publish causes of death by age, Slovenia has the highest lifetime chance of dying of alcohol use disorder for men (2.8%), and Türkiye the lowest (<0.01%).
Computed by Odainn from official mortality statistics (Eurostat; ONS, NRS and NISRA; CDC; Statistics Canada) for 36 countries, latest years — how we calculate. Belarus is left out: deaths by cause and age aren't published together there, so the split by cause is our estimate. Population statistics, not a prediction for any individual. Educational, not medical advice.