Antibiotic usage by surveillance category in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Antibiotic usage by surveillance category was 12.36 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
12.36 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
25th
of 46 countries
All-time high
12.64 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day
in 2017
All-time low
10.93 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day
in 2020
Years of data
7
2017–2023
Antibiotic usage by surveillance category in United Kingdom, 2017–2023
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
United Kingdom recorded 12.36 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day for antibiotic usage by surveillance category in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% on the previous year and down 2.2% over ten years.
United Kingdom ranks 25th of 46 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Antibiotic usage by surveillance category in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 12.64 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | — |
| 2018 | 12.4 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | -1.9% |
| 2019 | 12.25 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 10.93 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | -10.8% |
| 2021 | 10.99 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 12.05 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | +9.6% |
| 2023 | 12.36 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | +2.6% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 12.36 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.57 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day, 98% of the median. (26 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 12.36 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, 1.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 12.43 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | 12.25 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | 12.64 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | 3 |
| 2020s | 11.58 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | 10.93 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | 12.36 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day | 4 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 22 Italy 12.82 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day compare
- 23 Lithuania 12.67 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day compare
- 24 Portugal 12.46 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day compare
- 26 Georgia 11.73 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day compare
- 27 Maldives 11.49 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day compare
- 28 Latvia 10.83 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day compare
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is antibiotic usage by surveillance category in United Kingdom?
- Antibiotic usage by surveillance category in United Kingdom was 12.36 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 12.64 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day in 2017.
- What is the lowest antibiotic usage by surveillance category recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.93 defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day in 2020.
- How does United Kingdom rank for antibiotic usage by surveillance category?
- United Kingdom ranks 25th out of 46 countries with data for 2023.
- Is antibiotic usage by surveillance category rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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
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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.