Global spending on medicine continues to grow. In 2020, approximately 1.27 trillion U.S. dollars had been spent on medicines, up from just 887 billion U.S. dollars in 2010. That number is expected to increase to 1.6 billion by the year 2025. Spending on medicines has increased everywhere globally. However, the United States takes the lead in total medicines spending globally and is expected to remain the top country for medicines spending through 2025.
Global pharmaceutical industry
Globally, the pharmaceutical industry is a growing industry fueled by aging populations and new drugs to treat rare and specialty diseases. Regionally, the pharmaceutical industry generates the most revenue through the North American and European markets. Within all markets globally the top therapeutic class is oncology, followed by antidiabetics.
Top pharmaceutical companies
There are several large pharma companies that participate in the global pharmaceutical industry. As of 2020, U.S.-based pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson was the top pharmaceutical company, followed by Swiss company Roche, based on market capitalization. Among pharmaceutical companies, some have produced more new drugs than others. The U.S. and Europe are responsible for the largest number of new pharmaceutical substances from 2015 to 2019.
Global spending on medicines in 2010, 2020, and a forecast for 2025
(in billion U.S. dollars)
* Value for 2025 is an average of the high and low forecast values (1,610 bn and 1,580 bn).
Figures for 2010 were taken from a previous report by the same source.
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IQVIA. (April 28, 2021). Global spending on medicines in 2010, 2020, and a forecast for 2025 (in billion U.S. dollars) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 16, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/280572/medicine-spending-worldwide/
IQVIA. "Global spending on medicines in 2010, 2020, and a forecast for 2025 (in billion U.S. dollars)." Chart. April 28, 2021. Statista. Accessed May 16, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/280572/medicine-spending-worldwide/
IQVIA. (2021). Global spending on medicines in 2010, 2020, and a forecast for 2025 (in billion U.S. dollars). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 16, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/280572/medicine-spending-worldwide/
IQVIA. "Global Spending on Medicines in 2010, 2020, and a Forecast for 2025 (in Billion U.S. Dollars)." Statista, Statista Inc., 28 Apr 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/280572/medicine-spending-worldwide/
IQVIA, Global spending on medicines in 2010, 2020, and a forecast for 2025 (in billion U.S. dollars) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/280572/medicine-spending-worldwide/ (last visited May 16, 2022)
