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
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.