Spain vs United Kingdom: Pharmaceutical consumption
Pharmaceutical consumption over time
- Spain
- United Kingdom
How they compare
Spain currently reports 320.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day against 308.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in United Kingdom, a difference of 12 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day.
Across all 20 years both countries report, Spain has been ahead every year.
Spain ranks 9th and United Kingdom ranks 12th of 21 countries.
Spain has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Spain | United Kingdom | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 201.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 158.7 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 42.7 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | Spain |
| 2010s | 256.98 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 223.68 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 33.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | Spain |
| 2020s | 295.74 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 278.94 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 16.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | Spain |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher pharmaceutical consumption, Spain or United Kingdom?
- Spain, at 320.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day against 308.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in United Kingdom as of 2025.
- What is the difference in pharmaceutical consumption between Spain and United Kingdom?
- 12 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day, with Spain ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Spain and United Kingdom?
- 20 years are reported by both, from 2005 to 2024.
- How do Spain and United Kingdom rank globally for pharmaceutical consumption?
- Spain ranks 9th and United Kingdom ranks 12th 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.