Pharmaceutical consumption in Portugal
Portugal: Pharmaceutical consumption was 311 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2025. ▲ Rising
Pharmaceutical consumption in Portugal, 2000–2025
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day.
Analysis
In 2025, pharmaceutical consumption in Portugal stood at 311 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.5% on the previous year and up 47.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pharmaceutical consumption in Portugal peaked at 311 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2025 and was at its lowest, 170 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day, in 2000.
Portugal ranks 11th of 21 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 179.25 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 170 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 195.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 10 |
| 2010s | 206.59 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 176 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 241.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 10 |
| 2020s | 282.82 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 263.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 311 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 6 |
Countries ranked near Portugal
- 8 Norway 342.2 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
- 12 United Kingdom 308.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 13 Italy 297.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
- 14 Germany 252.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day compare
More health data for Portugal
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.56 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1616 % change on previous year (2090)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates 1,112 (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 38 (2100)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by country 0 (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 (2026)
- Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 60,235 (2025)
- Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 57,946 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 59,238 (2025)
- Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 56,650 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pharmaceutical consumption in Portugal?
- Pharmaceutical consumption in Portugal was 311 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 Portugal?
- The highest recorded value was 311 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2025.
- What is the lowest pharmaceutical consumption recorded in Portugal?
- The lowest recorded value was 170 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2000.
- How does Portugal rank for pharmaceutical consumption?
- Portugal ranks 11th out of 21 countries with data for 2025.
- Is pharmaceutical consumption rising or falling in Portugal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Portugal 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.