Antibiotic consumption rate in Spain
Spain: Antibiotic consumption rate was 25.54 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
25.54 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day
Change on year
up 6.0%
World rank
11th
of 46 countries
All-time high
27.9 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day
in 2016
All-time low
20.4 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day
in 2020
Years of data
8
2016–2023
Antibiotic consumption rate in Spain, 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
In 2023, antibiotic consumption rate in Spain stood at 25.54 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day.
That represents a change of up 6.0% on the previous year and down 8.5% over ten years.
Spain ranks 11th of 46 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Antibiotic consumption rate in Spain, year by year
| Year | defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 27.9 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | — |
| 2017 | 27.26 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 26.81 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 25.61 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | -4.5% |
| 2020 | 20.4 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | -20.3% |
| 2021 | 20.72 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | +1.5% |
| 2022 | 24.08 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | +16.3% |
| 2023 | 25.54 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | +6.0% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 25.54 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, 1.4× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Spain's 25.54 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, 1.4× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 26.89 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 25.61 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 27.9 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 4 |
| 2020s | 22.69 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 20.4 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 25.54 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 4 |
Countries ranked near Spain
- 8 Romania 29.61 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
- 9 South Africa 29.52 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
- 10 Tanzania 29.25 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
- 12 Italy 25.36 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
- 13 Malta 24.98 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
- 14 France 24.54 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
More economy & growth data for Spain
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.77 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.62 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 46.38 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0243 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 939.77 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 28.09 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -34.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0147 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 569.12 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 19.32 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is antibiotic consumption rate in Spain?
- Antibiotic consumption rate in Spain was 25.54 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 Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 27.9 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day in 2016.
- What is the lowest antibiotic consumption rate recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.4 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day in 2020.
- How does Spain rank for antibiotic consumption rate?
- Spain ranks 11th out of 46 countries with data for 2023.
- Is antibiotic consumption rate rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Spain 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.