Norway vs Sweden: Pharmaceutical consumption
Pharmaceutical consumption over time
- Norway
- Sweden
How they compare
Norway currently reports 342.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day against 315.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in Sweden, a difference of 26.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day.
That makes Norway's figure about 1.1 times Sweden's.
The two have swapped places 3 times across 26 shared years of data; in 2000 it was Sweden ahead.
Norway ranks 8th and Sweden ranks 10th of 21 countries.
Across the 3 decades both report, Norway averaged higher in 2 and Sweden in 1.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Norway | Sweden | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 253.24 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 254.65 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 1.41 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | Sweden |
| 2010s | 266.63 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 257.26 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 9.37 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | Norway |
| 2020s | 306.98 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 290.68 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 16.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | Norway |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher pharmaceutical consumption, Norway or Sweden?
- Norway, at 342.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day against 315.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in Sweden as of 2025.
- What is the difference in pharmaceutical consumption between Norway and Sweden?
- 26.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day, with Norway ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Norway and Sweden?
- 26 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2025.
- How do Norway and Sweden rank globally for pharmaceutical consumption?
- Norway ranks 8th and Sweden ranks 10th of 21 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as Pharmaceutical consumption. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Total pharmaceutical consumption according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification/Defined Daily Dose (DDD) system, created by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology. The unit of measurement is Defined Daily Dose (DDD), defined as the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used on its main indication in adults. The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system divides drugs into different groups according to the organ system on which they act and/or therapeutical, pharmacological and chemical characteristics. The main principles for the classification of medicinal substances according to the ATC is presented in the publication “Guidelines for ATC classification and DDD assignment”, WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, Oslo. The publication “ATC Index with DDDs” lists all assigned ATC codes and DDD values. Both these publications are updated annually. The ATC codes are based on the 2026 version of the ATC Index. All alterations implemented from January 2026 are available on the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology website at https://www.whocc.no/lists_of__temporary_atc_ddds_and_alterations/. Data should reflect, where possible, the total consumption for each pharmaceutical drug category, i.e. including consumption in hospitals. Please refer to the Sources and Methods for detailed country-specific information.