Global trends in antibiotic consumption during 2016–2023 and future projections through 2030

Antibiotic resistance is a global public health threat, with human antibiotic consumption being a significant factor. Analyzing trends in antibiotic consumption can help develop policies to mitigate the burden of antimicrobial resistance and global disparities in access to antibiotics. From 2016-2023, antibiotic consumption increased 16.3% in 67 countries, reflecting a 10.6% increase in consumption rate. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly reduced consumption globally, but in high-income countries, reductions were sharper and longer-lasting. By 2030, without investments in infrastructure and improved access to vaccination, global antibiotic consumption is projected to increase by 52.3% from 49.3 billion in 2023 to 75.1 billion DDDs.