Pharmaceutical consumption in Korea
Korea: Pharmaceutical consumption was 379.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2024. ▲ Rising
Pharmaceutical consumption in Korea, 2008–2024
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day.
Analysis
In 2024, pharmaceutical consumption in Korea stood at 379.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and down 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pharmaceutical consumption in Korea peaked at 422.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2014 and was at its lowest, 217.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day, in 2016.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 17 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 276.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 263.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 288.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 2 |
| 2010s | 280.45 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 217.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 422.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 10 |
| 2020s | 351.44 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 315.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 379.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 5 |
Countries ranked near Korea
More health data for Korea
- Mortality, morbidity and welfare cost from exposure to 0.008 Per 1 000 inhabitants (2019)
- Infant health: low birthweight 7.8 Percentage of live births (2024)
- Life expectancy 83.7 Years (2024)
- Life expectancy — Life expectancy difference -5.8 Years (2024)
- Life expectancy — Life expectancy difference 5.8 Years (2024)
- Maternal and infant mortality — Perinatal mortality 2.3 Deaths per 1 000 births (2024)
- Healthcare coverage — Health insurance coverage 51,751 Persons (2024)
- Causes of mortality 352,511 Deaths (2023)
- Communicable diseases — Communicable disease incidence 140 Cases (2024)
- Hospital beds by function of healthcare 12.58 Per 1 000 inhabitants (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pharmaceutical consumption in Korea?
- Pharmaceutical consumption in Korea was 379.9 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 Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 422.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2014.
- What is the lowest pharmaceutical consumption recorded in Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 217.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2016.
- How does Korea rank for pharmaceutical consumption?
- Korea ranks 1st out of 9 groups with data for 2024.
- Is pharmaceutical consumption rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Korea 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.