Pharmaceutical consumption in Netherlands
Netherlands: Pharmaceutical consumption was 247.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2024. ▲ Rising
Pharmaceutical consumption in Netherlands, 2001–2024
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day.
Analysis
Netherlands recorded 247.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day for pharmaceutical consumption in 2024.
The figure is up 1.5% on the previous year and down 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pharmaceutical consumption in Netherlands peaked at 337.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2022 and was at its lowest, 135.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day, in 2001.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Pharmaceutical consumption in Netherlands, year by year
| Year | Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 135.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | — |
| 2002 | 142.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +5.4% |
| 2003 | 151.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +6.3% |
| 2004 | 139.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | -8.0% |
| 2005 | 155.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +11.3% |
| 2006 | 163.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +5.4% |
| 2007 | 177.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +8.3% |
| 2008 | 188.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +6.2% |
| 2009 | 196.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 220.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +12.2% |
| 2011 | 231.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +5.0% |
| 2012 | 234.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 255.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +8.9% |
| 2014 | 272.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +6.9% |
| 2015 | 289.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +6.0% |
| 2016 | 306.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +6.0% |
| 2017 | 314.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 319.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 325.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 327.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 332.7 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +1.7% |
| 2022 | 337.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 243.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | -27.8% |
| 2024 | 247.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +1.5% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Pharmaceutical consumption in Netherlands 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | -27.8% | 337.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 243.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 160.99 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 135.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 196.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 9 |
| 2010s | 276.95 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 220.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 325.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 10 |
| 2020s | 297.62 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 243.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 337.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 5 |
Countries ranked near Netherlands
- 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
- 3 Canada 417.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 4 Czechia 371.6 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
- 7 Poland 175.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 7 New Zealand 351.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
More health data for Netherlands
- Mortality, morbidity and welfare cost from exposure to 0.007 Per 1 000 inhabitants (2019)
- Available beds in hospitals by NUTS 2 region 39,800 Number (2024)
- Infant mortality rates by NUTS 2 region 3.3 Rate (2024)
- Life expectancy by age, sex and NUTS 2 region 81.9 Year (2024)
- Infant mortality by NUTS 2 region 547 Number (2024)
- Life expectancy 81.9 Years (2024)
- Infant health: low birthweight 5.6 Percentage of live births (2023)
- Life expectancy — Life expectancy difference 2.8 Years (2024)
- Life expectancy — Life expectancy difference -2.8 Years (2024)
- Health personnel by NUTS 2 region - historical data 66,870 Number (2020)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pharmaceutical consumption in Netherlands?
- Pharmaceutical consumption in Netherlands was 247.2 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 Netherlands?
- The highest recorded value was 337.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2022.
- What is the lowest pharmaceutical consumption recorded in Netherlands?
- The lowest recorded value was 135.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2001.
- How does Netherlands rank for pharmaceutical consumption?
- Netherlands ranks 4th out of 7 countries with data for 2024.
- Is pharmaceutical consumption rising or falling in Netherlands?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Netherlands 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.