A new report from the United Nations reveals that the number of drug users worldwide has increased to 316 million, based on 2023 data. This figure represents 6% of the global population aged 15 to 64 and excludes tobacco and alcohol use.
Published on Thursday by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna, the 2025 World Drug Report highlights a steady rise in global drug consumption. For comparison, 5.2% of the global population used drugs in 2013.
Cannabis remains the most widely used drug, with an estimated 244 million users. It is followed by:
- Opioids: 61 million users
- Amphetamines: 30.7 million users
- Cocaine: 25 million users
- Ecstasy: 21 million users
UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly warned about the adaptability of organized crime in drug trafficking, stating:
“This edition of the World Drug Report shows that organised drug trafficking groups continue to adapt, exploit global crises, and target vulnerable populations.
“We must invest in prevention, address the root causes of the drug trade, and strengthen responses by using technology, enhancing cross-border cooperation, offering alternative livelihoods, and targeting key players within these criminal networks.”
Cocaine Market Sees Fastest Growth
The report identifies cocaine as the fastest-growing segment of the illicit drug market. Illegal cocaine production jumped over 30% in a single year, reaching a record 3,708 tons in 2023.
Between 2013 and 2023, the number of cocaine users surged from 17 million to 25 million.
UN experts noted a worrying rise in drug-related deaths and violence linked to competition among trafficking groups. The consequences are especially visible in Western and Central Europe, where cocaine seizures have now surpassed those in North America for several years..
