Prescriptions have become the norm. Norwegians are taking more and more medication
Norwegians are using medications more frequently than ever before. Industry data indicates further increases in consumption and ever higher spending at pharmacies.
The upward trend has continued uninterrupted for several years.
Fot. Wygenerowano przy pomocy AI
The consumption of prescription drugs per capita in Norway increased by over 3 percent from 2024 to 2025. On average, each resident uses 1.8 doses of medication daily. This is according to industry statistics compiled by the organization representing pharmacies.
An aging population drives consumption
Over the past five years, per capita prescription drug use has grown annually by 3 to 4 percent. Since 2015, the total increase has reached 30 percent. The data points to a long-term and stable trend. One of the main factors is demographic change.
Since 2015, the number of people over the age of 70 has increased by 206,000. This age group consumes significantly more medication than younger residents. Effective therapies allow people to live longer with chronic diseases. This directly translates into higher medication use.
Since 2015, the number of people over the age of 70 has increased by 206,000. This age group consumes significantly more medication than younger residents. Effective therapies allow people to live longer with chronic diseases. This directly translates into higher medication use.
Some medications are quickly gaining widespread use.Photo generated with AI assistance
New drugs and record-high spending
New medications are regularly being introduced to the market. Some are used by a very large number of patients. One example is semaglutide (a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity), which in 2025 was among the ten most commonly used medications in the country. The ranking is based on the number of defined daily doses.
The most commonly used drug remains atorvastatin, which is used to lower cholesterol. The top ten also include medications for high blood pressure, blood clot prevention, pain and fever, vitamin D deficiency, allergies, folic acid deficiency, heartburn, as well as type 2 diabetes and obesity.
In 2025, prescription drug sales in pharmacies reached 41.1 billion NOK, an increase of 4.9 percent compared to the previous year. The average spending per resident on prescription drugs was 7,400 NOK. Nearly three-quarters of these costs were covered by the state through the blue prescription system and hospital-funded medications.
The most commonly used drug remains atorvastatin, which is used to lower cholesterol. The top ten also include medications for high blood pressure, blood clot prevention, pain and fever, vitamin D deficiency, allergies, folic acid deficiency, heartburn, as well as type 2 diabetes and obesity.
In 2025, prescription drug sales in pharmacies reached 41.1 billion NOK, an increase of 4.9 percent compared to the previous year. The average spending per resident on prescription drugs was 7,400 NOK. Nearly three-quarters of these costs were covered by the state through the blue prescription system and hospital-funded medications.
At the same time, sales of fully paid medications are also rising. The highest revenues are generated by weight-loss drugs, including semaglutide and tirzepatide. Their combined sales increased by nearly 600 million NOK compared to 2024. Growth was also recorded in the vaccine segment, especially for shingles vaccines, whose sales value rose from 47 to 180 million NOK.
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