Pharmaceutical consumption in Australia
Australia: Pharmaceutical consumption was 148.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2022. ▲ Rising
Pharmaceutical consumption in Australia, 1990–2022
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day.
Analysis
The most recent figure for pharmaceutical consumption in Australia is 148.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.1% on the previous year and down 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pharmaceutical consumption in Australia peaked at 153.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2012 and was at its lowest, 56.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day, in 1991.
That places Australia 21st out of 21 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 80.56 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 56.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 106.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 10 |
| 2000s | 130.69 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 113.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 144.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 10 |
| 2010s | 150.36 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 144.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 153.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 10 |
| 2020s | 144.07 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 139.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 148.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 3 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More health data for Australia
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.83 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.9072 % change on previous year (2090)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 906.6 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 215 (2100)
- Population, male, annual growth rate 1.55 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population, male, per capita 0.4962 units per person (2025)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by country 0 (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 (2026)
- Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 178,762 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pharmaceutical consumption in Australia?
- Pharmaceutical consumption in Australia was 148.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2022, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest pharmaceutical consumption recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 153.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2012.
- What is the lowest pharmaceutical consumption recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 1991.
- How does Australia rank for pharmaceutical consumption?
- Australia ranks 21st out of 21 countries with data for 2022.
- Is pharmaceutical consumption rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Pharmaceutical consumption. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.