Antibiotic usage by surveillance category in South Africa
South Africa: Antibiotic usage by surveillance category was 15.13 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day in 2023. ▲ Rising
Antibiotic usage by surveillance category in South Africa, 2019–2023
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 South Africa is 15.13 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 5 years on record.
The figure is up 0.6% on the previous year and up 66.8% over five years.
That places South Africa 14th out of 46 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Antibiotic usage by surveillance category in South Africa, year by year
| Year | defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 9.07 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | — |
| 2020 | 9.65 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | +6.4% |
| 2021 | 11.47 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | +18.9% |
| 2022 | 15.05 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | +31.1% |
| 2023 | 15.13 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | +0.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 15.13 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 13.73 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day, 1.1× the median. (9 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 15.13 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 15.33 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day, 99% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 9.07 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | 9.07 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | 9.07 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | 1 |
| 2020s | 12.82 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | 9.65 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | 15.13 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 11 Iceland 15.59 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day compare
- 12 Laos 15.33 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day compare
- 13 Benin 15.33 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day compare
- 15 Romania 14.79 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day compare
- 16 Poland 14.5 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day compare
- 17 Belgium 14.45 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day compare
More reference data data for South Africa
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.5111 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 8.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.7468 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.63 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.49 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 41.1 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 63.65 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.07 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is antibiotic usage by surveillance category in South Africa?
- Antibiotic usage by surveillance category in South Africa was 15.13 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 15.13 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day in 2023.
- What is the lowest antibiotic usage by surveillance category recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 9.07 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day in 2019.
- How does South Africa rank for antibiotic usage by surveillance category?
- South Africa ranks 14th out of 46 countries with data for 2023.
- Where does this South Africa 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.
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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.