The US market continues to represent the single greatest share of the global pharmaceutical market (44.5% in 2016) and is over four times larger than the next largest market, China, which saw a recent decline in the value of its market (7.9% in 2016). Year-on-year variations must be considered before concluding trends.
The EU “Big 5” markets continue to decline as a relative share of the global market for pharmaceuticals, and the recent decline in the UK to a share value of 2.4% in 2016 reflects not only a relative decline as a share of the global market but also nominal decline in expenditure back to 2011 current values.
IMS Health estimates sales through all distribution channels in all countries, whether these channels are audited by IMS Health or not. These estimates are intended to include both prescription and most non-prescription products. These data are provided in millions of US dollars, current values, at list prices.