Pharmaceutical consumption in Canada
Canada: Pharmaceutical consumption was 417.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2025. ▲ Rising
Pharmaceutical consumption in Canada, 2007–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day.
Analysis
Canada recorded 417.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day for pharmaceutical consumption in 2025. That is the highest value across all 19 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 15.9% on the previous year and up 249.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pharmaceutical consumption in Canada peaked at 417.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2025 and was at its lowest, 98.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day, in 2007.
That places Canada 3rd out of 21 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.
Pharmaceutical consumption in Canada, year by year
| Year | Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 98.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | — |
| 2008 | 103.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +4.7% |
| 2009 | 105.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 107.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 111.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 112.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 114.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +1.5% |
| 2014 | 117.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 119.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 196 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +64.3% |
| 2017 | 198.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 203.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 210.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 235.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +11.7% |
| 2021 | 263.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +12.2% |
| 2022 | 261.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | -0.9% |
| 2023 | 350.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +34.0% |
| 2024 | 360.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +2.8% |
| 2025 | 417.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +15.9% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 417.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day is above the median for high income countries, which is 311 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day, 1.3× the median. (21 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Pharmaceutical consumption in Canada changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +64.3% | 119.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 196 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day |
| 2023 | +34.0% | 261.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 350.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 102.47 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 98.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 105.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 3 |
| 2010s | 149.02 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 107.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 210.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 10 |
| 2020s | 314.68 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 235.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 417.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 6 |
Countries ranked near Canada
- 1 Türkiye 548.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 1 Luxembourg 640.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 2 Croatia 321.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 2 Latvia 362.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 2 Hungary 442.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 3 Slovenia 312.7 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 4 Czechia 371.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 4 Netherlands 247.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 5 Finland 361.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 5 Lithuania 229 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 6 Estonia 223.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 6 Greece 352.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
More health data for Canada
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.79 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.3588 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 385 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 0.5214 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.023 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.5024 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0242 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pharmaceutical consumption in Canada?
- Pharmaceutical consumption in Canada was 417.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2025, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest pharmaceutical consumption recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 417.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2025.
- What is the lowest pharmaceutical consumption recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 98.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2007.
- How does Canada rank for pharmaceutical consumption?
- Canada ranks 3rd out of 21 countries with data for 2025.
- Is pharmaceutical consumption rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 249.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Canada 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.