Antibiotic usage by surveillance category in Ireland
Ireland: Antibiotic usage by surveillance category was 17.17 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
17.17 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
6th
of 46 countries
All-time high
17.17 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day
in 2023
All-time low
13.08 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day
in 2021
Years of data
8
2016–2023
Antibiotic usage by surveillance category in Ireland, 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 1000 inhabitants per day.
Analysis
The most recent figure for antibiotic usage by surveillance category in Ireland is 17.17 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 21.1% over ten years.
That places Ireland 6th out of 46 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Antibiotic usage by surveillance category in Ireland, year by year
| Year | defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 14.17 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | — |
| 2017 | 13.39 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | -5.6% |
| 2018 | 15.24 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | +13.8% |
| 2019 | 15.94 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | +4.6% |
| 2020 | 13.15 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | -17.5% |
| 2021 | 13.08 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 16.98 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | +29.8% |
| 2023 | 17.17 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | +1.1% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 17.17 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day is above the median for high income countries, which is 12.57 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day, 1.4× the median. (26 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 17.17 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.36 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day, 1.4× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 14.69 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | 13.39 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | 15.94 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | 4 |
| 2020s | 15.09 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | 13.08 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | 17.17 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
- 3 Cyprus 18.92 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day compare
- 4 Jordan 18.65 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day compare
- 5 France 17.77 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day compare
- 7 Montenegro 17.09 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day compare
- 8 Colombia 16.31 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day compare
- 9 Spain 15.75 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day compare
More reference data data for Ireland
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 1.19 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0921 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.87 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 3.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.6 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 21.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.5015 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is antibiotic usage by surveillance category in Ireland?
- Antibiotic usage by surveillance category in Ireland was 17.17 defined daily doses per 1000 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 usage by surveillance category recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 17.17 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day in 2023.
- What is the lowest antibiotic usage by surveillance category recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 13.08 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day in 2021.
- How does Ireland rank for antibiotic usage by surveillance category?
- Ireland ranks 6th out of 46 countries with data for 2023.
- Is antibiotic usage by surveillance category rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ireland 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 usage by surveillance category. 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 AWaRe category: Access used per 1000 inhabitants per day. Access antibiotics have activity against a wide range of common pathogens and show lower resistance potential than antibiotics in the other groups.