Understanding Where is Ozempic Sold the Most: A Global Market Analysis

October 11, 2025 •

3 min read

In 2024, North America was the largest revenue-generating market for Ozempic, with the United States accounting for a significant majority of its sales. The global success of this GLP-1 receptor agonist, manufactured by Novo Nordisk, is driven by various market factors, including high rates of type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well as distinct pricing structures across different regions.

Quick Summary

A regional analysis of Ozempic sales confirms North America's market dominance, particularly driven by US demand due to high disease prevalence and favorable healthcare conditions. Other key markets, such as Europe and Asia-Pacific, contribute substantially, with varying growth trajectories influenced by pricing, reimbursement, and off-label usage.

Key Points

North America leads sales: The United States accounts for the largest portion of global Ozempic revenue.
US demand factors: High rates of diabetes and obesity, widespread insurance coverage, and marketing contribute to strong US sales.
Europe is a key market: Countries like Germany and the UK contribute significant sales, though prices are lower than in the US.
Asia-Pacific shows rapid growth: Markets in China and Japan are expanding quickly due to rising disease prevalence and improving healthcare access.
Global sales drivers: Increasing rates of diabetes and obesity, expanding clinical uses, and evolving distribution channels influence worldwide demand.
Distribution channels: Retail pharmacies are the main point of sale, with online options increasing in popularity.

North America: The Epicenter of Ozempic Sales

North America has consistently been identified as the leading market for Ozempic, contributing the largest portion of its global revenue. This dominance was evident in 2024, with the region holding a significant share of the semaglutide market.

United States Market Dominance

The United States is the primary driver of Ozempic sales within North America. Reports from the first half of 2024 indicated the US was responsible for approximately 70% of Novo Nordisk's total semaglutide sales. Several factors underpin this strong US performance:

High Disease Prevalence: The high rates of type 2 diabetes and obesity in the US create a large patient population requiring treatment.
Established Healthcare System: The US has a well-developed pharmaceutical and healthcare infrastructure facilitating medication uptake.
Insurance Coverage: Broad insurance coverage helps make GLP-1 agonists more accessible despite high list prices.
Marketing Efforts: Novo Nordisk's targeted marketing contributes to demand in the US.
Off-label Prescribing: Significant off-label use for weight loss further increases the user base.

Significant European Markets

While not matching US sales, European countries contribute significantly to the Ozempic market. Nations with strong healthcare systems and metabolic disorder management programs are key drivers.

Regional Nuances

European markets often feature public healthcare systems and price controls, resulting in lower list prices for Ozempic compared to the US. Despite this, high prescription volumes in countries like Germany, France, and the UK contribute substantially to global sales.

Growth and Trends in Asia-Pacific

The Asia-Pacific region is a rapidly growing market for Ozempic, projected for strong future growth due to increasing disease prevalence and improved healthcare access.

Key Countries

China: With a large population and rising obesity rates, China is a major growth market. A grey market for Ozempic has emerged, partly due to lower prices compared to the US.
Japan: Supported by government health initiatives, Japan is also a significant market with high per-capita spending on innovative therapies.

Ozempic Pricing and Market Characteristics Comparison


Feature	United States	Germany	Japan	China (Grey Market)	Europe (General)
Market Position (2024)	Dominant (Largest Revenue)	Major contributor, established market	Significant market, strong growth	Rapidly growing, strong demand	Steady uptake, evidence-based systems
Price (per month, approximate)	~$936 - $969 (High list price)	~$59 - $103 (Lower list price)	~$169 (Lower list price)	~$139 (Lower list price)	Generally lower than US
Primary Indication	Type 2 Diabetes (significant off-label use for obesity)	Type 2 Diabetes	Type 2 Diabetes	Diabetes (off-label use for obesity)	Type 2 Diabetes
Drivers	High prevalence of diabetes/obesity, insurance, marketing	Robust healthcare system, obesity management programs	Government initiatives, aging population	Rising obesity, cheaper prices, celebrity influence	Favorable regulatory opinions, established health systems
Challenges	High cost, complex reimbursement landscape	Cost control measures	Cost barriers for innovative therapies	Grey market access, regulatory risk	Pricing pressures, market access

Factors Influencing Global Sales

Global Ozempic sales are driven by several key factors, including the increasing rates of type 2 diabetes and obesity worldwide and expanding clinical evidence on its benefits. Distribution is primarily through retail pharmacies, with growing online channels, and manufacturer Novo Nordisk is targeting expansion in growth regions.

Conclusion

The United States leads the world in Ozempic sales due to high disease prevalence and a robust healthcare system. However, the global market is dynamic, with strong contributions from Europe and increasing growth in the Asia-Pacific region. The overall rise in diabetes and obesity, alongside evolving healthcare landscapes and distribution methods, continues to fuel Ozempic's success internationally. For more information, refer to the {Link: Mordor Intelligence analysis https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/ozempic-market}.

Frequently Asked Questions

The United States is the country with the highest sales of Ozempic, contributing the largest share of its global revenue.

High rates of type 2 diabetes and obesity, extensive insurance coverage, aggressive marketing, and off-label prescriptions for weight loss drive significant sales in the US.

European countries like Germany and the UK are major markets, but sales volumes are lower and prices are significantly less than in the US due to different healthcare systems and regulations.

Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes. Its use for weight loss is often off-label. While common in the US, some regions like China have grey markets to meet demand for this purpose.

Retail pharmacies are the primary distribution channel globally, although online pharmacies are a rapidly expanding option.

Globally increasing obesity rates are a major factor boosting demand for semaglutide, including both approved diabetes treatment and off-label use for weight management.

The market is expected to grow, particularly in high-potential areas like Asia-Pacific and emerging markets, as healthcare infrastructure develops and disease prevalence increases.