Pharmaceutical consumption in Sweden
Sweden: Pharmaceutical consumption was 315.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2025. ▲ Rising
Pharmaceutical consumption in Sweden, 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 Sweden stood at 315.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.4% on the previous year and up 21.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, pharmaceutical consumption in Sweden peaked at 315.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2025 and was at its lowest, 232.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day, in 2000.
That places Sweden 10th 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 26 years of available data.
Pharmaceutical consumption in Sweden, year by year
| Year | Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 232.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | — |
| 2001 | 239.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +3.0% |
| 2002 | 247.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +3.2% |
| 2003 | 256.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 265.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 265.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 261.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | -1.2% |
| 2007 | 261 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 259.7 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 256.6 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 247.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | -3.6% |
| 2011 | 244.2 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | -1.3% |
| 2012 | 244 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 249.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +2.1% |
| 2014 | 252.7 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 259.5 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 264.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 266.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 269 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 276.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 278 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 276.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | -0.4% |
| 2022 | 284 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 287.9 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 302.1 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +4.9% |
| 2025 | 315.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | +4.4% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 315.3 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, 1.0× the median. (21 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 315.3 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, 1.0× the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 254.65 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 232.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 265.4 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 10 |
| 2010s | 257.26 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 244 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 276.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 10 |
| 2020s | 290.68 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 276.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 315.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day | 6 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
- 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
- 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
- 11 Portugal 311 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
More health data for Sweden
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.8581 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 30 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -3.12 % 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 0.0243 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -3.2 % 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 0.0256 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is pharmaceutical consumption in Sweden?
- Pharmaceutical consumption in Sweden was 315.3 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 Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 315.3 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2025.
- What is the lowest pharmaceutical consumption recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 232.8 Defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in 2000.
- How does Sweden rank for pharmaceutical consumption?
- Sweden ranks 10th out of 21 countries with data for 2025.
- Is pharmaceutical consumption rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Sweden 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under OECD Terms and Conditions (attribution required).
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.