Antibiotic consumption rate in Belgium
Belgium: Antibiotic consumption rate was 21.13 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
21.13 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
21st
of 46 countries
All-time high
24.54 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day
in 2016
All-time low
17.04 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day
in 2020
Years of data
8
2016–2023
Antibiotic consumption rate in Belgium, 2016–2023
Source: WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day.
Analysis
Belgium recorded 21.13 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day for antibiotic consumption rate in 2023.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and down 13.9% over ten years.
Belgium ranks 21st of 46 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Antibiotic consumption rate in Belgium, year by year
| Year | defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 24.54 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | — |
| 2017 | 23.12 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | -5.8% |
| 2018 | 22.66 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 21.75 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | -4.0% |
| 2020 | 17.04 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | -21.6% |
| 2021 | 17.82 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | +4.5% |
| 2022 | 20.87 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | +17.2% |
| 2023 | 21.13 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | +1.2% |
Belgium compared with similar countries
- Belgium's 21.13 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day is above the median for high income countries, which is 17.88 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day, 1.2× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Belgium's 21.13 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 18.31 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day, 1.2× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 23.02 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 21.75 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 24.54 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 4 |
| 2020s | 19.21 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 17.04 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 21.13 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 4 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
- 18 Colombia 22.73 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
- 19 Benin 22.72 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
- 20 Croatia 21.61 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
- 22 Belarus 20.84 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
- 23 Burkina Faso 20.24 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
- 24 Portugal 19.88 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
More economy & growth data for Belgium
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.25 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -19.31 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0266 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -1,617 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -28.79 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 30.39 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0397 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -2,411 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 33.22 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is antibiotic consumption rate in Belgium?
- Antibiotic consumption rate in Belgium was 21.13 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day in 2023, according to WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest antibiotic consumption rate recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 24.54 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day in 2016.
- What is the lowest antibiotic consumption rate recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.04 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day in 2020.
- How does Belgium rank for antibiotic consumption rate?
- Belgium ranks 21st out of 46 countries with data for 2023.
- Is antibiotic consumption rate rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Antibiotic consumption rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total defined daily doses of antibiotics and antituberculosis drugs used in a given year per 1,000 inhabitants per day.