Pharmaceutical consumption in Belgium
Belgium: Pharmaceutical consumption was 213 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2024. ▲ Rising
Pharmaceutical consumption in Belgium, 1997–2024
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 Belgium is 213 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 28 years on record.
The figure is up 3.6% on the previous year and up 22.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pharmaceutical consumption in Belgium peaked at 213 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2024 and was at its lowest, 56.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day, in 1997.
Belgium ranks 18th of 21 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 28 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 60.87 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 56.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 65.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 3 |
| 2000s | 104.57 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 68.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 145.7 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 10 |
| 2010s | 173.91 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 152.7 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 191.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 10 |
| 2020s | 200.64 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 190.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 213 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 5 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 15 Chile 250.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 16 Denmark 247.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 17 Iceland 236.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 19 Israel 178.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 20 Austria 161.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 21 Australia 148.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
More health data for Belgium
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -3.28 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.2923 % change on previous year (2090)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 1,160 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 59 (2100)
- Population, male, annual growth rate 0.7473 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population, male, per capita 0.4933 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 70,276 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pharmaceutical consumption in Belgium?
- Pharmaceutical consumption in Belgium was 213 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2024, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest pharmaceutical consumption recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 213 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2024.
- What is the lowest pharmaceutical consumption recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 56.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 1997.
- How does Belgium rank for pharmaceutical consumption?
- Belgium ranks 18th out of 21 countries with data for 2024.
- Is pharmaceutical consumption rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium 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.