Which countries spend the most on medicine?

Americans spend the most per person on medicine, with the average US resident spending $1,026 in 2013, according to the OECD’s Health at a Glance 2015 report.

The report brings together the most recent comparable data on the OECD member nations’ health systems, including figures for expenditure on retail pharmaceuticals per capita. The data is presented in US dollars, adjusted for purchasing power parity. In total, pharmaceutical spending across the OECD reached $800bn in 2013.

Second on the list is Japan, where per capita spending was $752 in 2013. Greece completes the top three, with $721.

There is a strong European presence on the list, with Germany, Switzerland, Ireland, Belgium and France all featuring in addition to Greece. The top 10 also shows Canada in 4^th, and Australia in 10^th.

The report argues that spending on medicine is on the rise, owing to a number of factors. These include an ageing population, the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and new and innovative drugs.

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Author: Joe Myers is a Digital Content Producer at Formative Content.

Image: Pharmaceutical tablets and capsules in foil strips are arranged on a table. REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic.