The world’s biggest consumers of antidepressants

Nov 17, 2015

Niall McCarthy

Data Journalist, Statista

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Fifteen years ago, Iceland had the world’s highest rate of antidepressant consumption – 71 out of every 1,000 people took antidepressants daily. In 2015, that trend hasn’t changed. In fact, the rate of consumption among Icelanders has actually increased to 118 per 1,000 people.

Some experts attribute this rise to a weakening of social taboos, while others point to the failure of the country’s three largest banks during the financial crisis.

Australia ranks as the world’s second-largest consumer, while Portugal rounds off the top three.

This chart, from OECD data, shows the defined daily dose, per 1,000 people, per day in 2013.

Publication does not imply endorsement of views by the World Economic Forum.

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Author: Niall McCarthy Data is a Media Relations Manager at Statista.

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

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