Pharmaceutical consumption in Norway
Norway: Pharmaceutical consumption was 342.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2025. ▲ Rising
Pharmaceutical consumption in Norway, 1999–2025
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 Norway is 342.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 27 years on record.
The figure is up 3.0% on the previous year and up 26.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pharmaceutical consumption in Norway peaked at 342.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2025 and was at its lowest, 198.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day, in 1999.
That places Norway 8th out of 21 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 27 years of available data.
Pharmaceutical consumption in Norway, year by year
| Year | Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 198.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | — |
| 2000 | 206.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 218.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +5.6% |
| 2002 | 236.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +8.3% |
| 2003 | 248.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 267.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +7.5% |
| 2005 | 267.7 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 267.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 274.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 275.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 270 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 257.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | -4.5% |
| 2011 | 252.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | -2.1% |
| 2012 | 256.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +1.4% |
| 2013 | 258 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 264.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +2.5% |
| 2015 | 270.7 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 279.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 289.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +3.5% |
| 2018 | 275.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 263.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | -4.4% |
| 2020 | 269.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +2.5% |
| 2021 | 283.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +5.0% |
| 2022 | 299 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +5.5% |
| 2023 | 315.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +5.5% |
| 2024 | 332.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +5.3% |
| 2025 | 342.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +3.0% |
Norway compared with similar countries
- Norway's 342.2 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, 1.1× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Norway's 342.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 313.15 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day, 1.1× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 198.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 198.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 198.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 1 |
| 2000s | 253.24 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 206.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 275.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 10 |
| 2010s | 266.63 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 252.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 289.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 10 |
| 2020s | 306.98 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 269.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 342.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 6 |
Countries ranked near Norway
- 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
- 9 Spain 320.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 10 Sweden 315.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 11 Portugal 311 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
More health data for Norway
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -7.69 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.337 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 12 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2021)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.217 % 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 0.0238 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -0.0617 % 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 0.0251 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pharmaceutical consumption in Norway?
- Pharmaceutical consumption in Norway was 342.2 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 Norway?
- The highest recorded value was 342.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2025.
- What is the lowest pharmaceutical consumption recorded in Norway?
- The lowest recorded value was 198.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 1999.
- How does Norway rank for pharmaceutical consumption?
- Norway ranks 8th out of 21 countries with data for 2025.
- Is pharmaceutical consumption rising or falling in Norway?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Norway 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.