Global Antibiotic Use – From Iran’s High Rates to Qatar’s Careful Control

 

Countries by Antibiotic Use

Daily dose of antibiotics (DDD), used per 1,000 inhabitants:

🇮🇷 Iran: 68
🇿🇦 South Africa: 51
🇪🇬 Egypt: 50
🇧🇩 Bangladesh: 49
🇹🇿 Tanzania: 35
🇯🇴 Jordan: 34
🇨🇾 Cyprus: 34
🇲🇪 Montenegro: 33
🇳🇵 Nepal: 32
🇱🇦 Laos: 30
🇷🇴 Romania: 29
🇹🇳 Tunisia: 28
🇫🇷…

— World of Statistics (@stats_feed) October 13, 2025

 The difference in antibiotic use (measured in Defined Daily Doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day) reveals much more than just “how much medicine people take.” It reflects deep differences in healthcare systems, regulations, public health awareness, and socioeconomic factors.

Why Iran, Egypt, and South Africa are among the highest users ?

Why Oman, Qatar, and Mali use antibiotics the least ?

Antibiotic use reveals much about a nation’s health system. In Iran, Egypt, and South Africa, overuse stems from easy access, infection burdens, and weak regulation, fueling resistance risks. In contrast, Oman and Qatar tightly control prescriptions and maintain cleaner health environments, while Mali’s low rates reflect limited access, not restraint. Behind each statistic lies a story of inequality, awareness, and how societies value responsible medicine.

💊 Interesting Facts About Antibiotic Use

1. 🌍 In some countries, you can buy antibiotics without a prescription, leading to frequent misuse and resistance.

2. 🏥 In others, their use is strictly regulated, and only doctors can prescribe them.

3. 🚑 In many places, people lack access to healthcare, so they rarely get antibiotics even when needed.

4. ⚖️ As a result, low antibiotic use can appear both in wealthy and in poor nations — but for very different reasons.

5. 💬 Cultural beliefs matter: in some regions, antibiotics are seen as a quick “cure-all,” even for viral infections.

6. ✈️ Global travel and trade spread antibiotic-resistant bacteria, turning local misuse into a worldwide threat.