Antibiotic consumption rate in Sweden
Sweden: Antibiotic consumption rate was 9.67 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
9.67 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day
Change on year
down 2.7%
World rank
44th
of 46 countries
All-time high
12.61 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day
in 2016
All-time low
9.67 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day
in 2021
Years of data
6
2016–2021
Antibiotic consumption rate in Sweden, 2016–2021
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
Sweden recorded 9.67 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day for antibiotic consumption rate in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
That represents a change of down 2.7% on the previous year and down 23.3% over ten years.
That places Sweden 44th out of 46 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Antibiotic consumption rate in Sweden, year by year
| Year | defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 12.61 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | — |
| 2017 | 12.1 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | -4.0% |
| 2018 | 11.76 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 11.36 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | -3.4% |
| 2020 | 9.94 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | -12.5% |
| 2021 | 9.67 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | -2.7% |
Sweden compared with similar countries
- Sweden's 9.67 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day is below the median for high income countries, which is 17.88 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day, 54% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Sweden's 9.67 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 18.31 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day, 53% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 11.96 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 11.36 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 12.61 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 4 |
| 2020s | 9.8 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 9.67 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 9.94 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day | 2 |
Countries ranked near Sweden
- 41 Austria 11.89 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
- 42 Switzerland 11.36 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
- 43 Ukraine 10.65 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
- 45 Mali 8.42 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day compare
- 46 Honduras 5.66 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day
More economy & growth data for Sweden
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.62 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.12 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 8.03 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.012 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 757.39 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 19.15 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -37.67 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0286 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,807 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 18.58 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is antibiotic consumption rate in Sweden?
- Antibiotic consumption rate in Sweden was 9.67 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day in 2021, 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 Sweden?
- The highest recorded value was 12.61 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day in 2016.
- What is the lowest antibiotic consumption rate recorded in Sweden?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.67 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day in 2021.
- How does Sweden rank for antibiotic consumption rate?
- Sweden ranks 44th out of 46 countries with data for 2021.
- Is antibiotic consumption rate rising or falling in Sweden?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sweden 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.