Antibiotic consumption rate in Iceland
Iceland: Antibiotic consumption rate was 18.31 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
18.31 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
28th
of 46 countries
All-time high
20.36 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day
in 2017
All-time low
16.29 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day
in 2020
Years of data
8
2016–2023
Antibiotic consumption rate in Iceland, 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
The most recent figure for antibiotic consumption rate in Iceland is 18.31 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and up 0.5% over ten years.
Iceland ranks 28th of 46 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Antibiotic consumption rate in Iceland, year by year
| Year | defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 18.23 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | — |
| 2017 | 20.36 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | +11.7% |
| 2018 | 20 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | -1.8% |
| 2019 | 18.93 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | -5.3% |
| 2020 | 16.29 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | -14.0% |
| 2021 | 16.4 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 18.18 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | +10.9% |
| 2023 | 18.31 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | +0.7% |
Iceland compared with similar countries
- Iceland's 18.31 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, 1.0× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Iceland's 18.31 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, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 19.38 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 18.23 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 20.36 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 4 |
| 2020s | 17.3 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 16.29 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 18.31 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iceland
- 25 Lithuania 19.38 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
- 26 Tajikistan 18.81 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
- 27 Laos 18.44 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
- 29 Russia 17.45 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
- 30 United Kingdom 17.08 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
- 31 Denmark 16.26 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
More economy & growth data for Iceland
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.96 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.48 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -851.71 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0221 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -2,170 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -201.70 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -107.12 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0052 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -514.02 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 20.76 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is antibiotic consumption rate in Iceland?
- Antibiotic consumption rate in Iceland was 18.31 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 Iceland?
- The highest recorded value was 20.36 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day in 2017.
- What is the lowest antibiotic consumption rate recorded in Iceland?
- The lowest recorded value was 16.29 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day in 2020.
- How does Iceland rank for antibiotic consumption rate?
- Iceland ranks 28th out of 46 countries with data for 2023.
- Is antibiotic consumption rate rising or falling in Iceland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Iceland 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total defined daily doses of antibiotics and antituberculosis drugs used in a given year per 1,000 inhabitants per day.