This list reveals the top 10 pharmaceuticals importers based on their percentage of global import purchases (shown within parenthesis). In 2017, world pharmaceuticals imports totaled US$560 billion.
African Importers

Africa imported $14.5 billion worth of pharmaceuticals led by the following countries:

  1. South Africa: $2.23 billion
  2. Egypt: $2.19 billion
  3. Algeria: $1.9 billion
  4. Morocco: $592.4 million
  5. Ethiopia: $536.1 million
  6. Kenya: $518.3 million
  7. Tunisia: $507.3 million
  8. Cameroon: $453.8 million
  9. Tanzania: $425.2 million
10. Democratic Rep. Congo: $420.5 million
Asian Importers

Asia imported $82.7 billion worth of pharmaceuticals led by the following countries:

  1. China: $25.4 billion
  2. Japan: $22.5 billion
  3. South Korea: $5.6 billion
  4. Turkey: $4.4 billion
  5. Taiwan: $3.4 billion
  6. Hong Kong: $2.7 billion
  7. Singapore: $2.5 billion
  8. Thailand: $2.3 billion
  9. Vietnam: $2.2 billion
10. India: $1.8 billion
European Union (EU) Importers

European Union imported $255.2 billion worth of pharmaceuticals led by its following members:

  1. Germany: $54 billion
  2. Belgium: $34.7 billion
  3. United Kingdom: $33.1 billion
  4. Italy: $23.2 billion
  5. France: $23.1 billion
  6. Netherlands: $14.1 billion
  7. Spain: $13.9 billion
  8. Ireland: $9.4 billion
  9. Poland: $6.3 billion
10. Austria: $6 billion
Latin American and Caribbean Importers

Latin America (excluding Mexico) and the Caribbean imported $20.2 billion worth of pharmaceuticals led by the following countries:

  1. Brazil: $6.6 billion
  2. Argentina: $2.4 billion
  3. Colombia: $2.2 billion
  4. Chile: $1.3 billion
  5. Panama: $1.1 billion
  6. Ecuador: $990.7 million
  7. Costa Rica: $788.8 million
  8. Peru: $777.1 million
  9. Dominican Republic: $619.8 million
10. Guatemala: $615.4 million
Middle Eastern Importers

Middle East imported $18.7 billion worth of pharmaceuticals led by the following countries:

  1. Saudi Arabia: $5.2 billion
  2. United Arab Emirates: $4 billion
  3. Israel: $2.2 billion
  4. Iran: $1.6 billion
  5. Kuwait: $1.4 billion
  6. Iraq: $1.25 billion
  7. Lebanon: $1.17 billion
  8. Jordan: $557.2 million
  9. Qatar: $426.3 million
10. Oman: $342.1 million
North American Importers

North America imported $112.5 billion worth of pharmaceuticals led by the following countries:

  1. United States: $96.6 billion
  2. Canada: $11.7 billion
  3. Mexico: $4.2 billion
Oceanian Importers

Oceania imported $9.1 billion worth of pharmaceuticals led by the following countries:

  1. Australia: $7.9 billion
  2. New Zealand: $943.3 million
  3. New Caledonia: $93.2 million
  4. French Polynesia: $83.7 million
  5. Papua New Guinea: $41.1 million
  6. Fiji: $32.1 million
  7. Vanuatu: $6.1 million
  8. Samoa: $4.9 million
  9. Solomon Islands: $4.7 million
10. Palau: $3.1 million
To see the 25 fastest-growing pharmaceuticals importers from 2013 to 2017, use the slidebar on the accompanying list. Overall, the 5-year percentage gain for globally imported pharmaceuticals was 11.5%.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis

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Gems Importers
Pharma Exporters
Pharma Importers

Top Pharmaceutical Product Importers 2017
Fastest-Growing Pharmaceuticals Import Countries
Research Note: Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.