In 2024, the sales value of over-the-counter cold, cough and sore throat treatments in Great Britain increased by nine percent, a distinctly higher growth than in the preceding year. Overall, the sales value of cold treatments experienced a decline in four of the years shown, in 2011, 2013, 2017, and 2020.
OTC medicine market in Great Britain
The sales value of OTC drugs has increased from 1.65 billion British pounds in the year 2000, to being worth approximately four billion British pounds in 2024. The single category with the highest value was pain relief, while cough, cold and sore throat medication was ranked second.
Growth of other OTC categories
At eight percent, vitamins and minerals were among the OTC classifications with a higher growth in sales value in Great Britain between 2023 and 2024. The OTC category of hay fever products showed an increase of five percent.
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Annual change in sales value of OTC cold, cough and sore throat treatments in Great Britain from 2010 to 2024
Sales data is for all outlets, excluding health food stores. This statistics was assembled from several PAGB annual highlights. There is no information about previous years' data being restated.
* Change refers to percentage change on the same period a year earlier, except for 2011 which is change compared to the 52 week ending January 1, 2011 (not December 25, 2010).
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Proprietary Association of Great Britain. (March 17, 2025). Annual change in sales value of OTC cold, cough and sore throat treatments in Great Britain from 2010 to 2024 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 28, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/521898/otc-cold-cough-sore-throat-treatments-sales-growth-great-britain/
Proprietary Association of Great Britain. "Annual change in sales value of OTC cold, cough and sore throat treatments in Great Britain from 2010 to 2024." Chart. March 17, 2025. Statista. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/521898/otc-cold-cough-sore-throat-treatments-sales-growth-great-britain/
Proprietary Association of Great Britain. (2025). Annual change in sales value of OTC cold, cough and sore throat treatments in Great Britain from 2010 to 2024. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 28, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/521898/otc-cold-cough-sore-throat-treatments-sales-growth-great-britain/
Proprietary Association of Great Britain. "Annual Change in Sales Value of Otc Cold, Cough and Sore Throat Treatments in Great Britain from 2010 to 2024." Statista, Statista Inc., 17 Mar 2025, https://www.statista.com/statistics/521898/otc-cold-cough-sore-throat-treatments-sales-growth-great-britain/
Proprietary Association of Great Britain, Annual change in sales value of OTC cold, cough and sore throat treatments in Great Britain from 2010 to 2024 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/521898/otc-cold-cough-sore-throat-treatments-sales-growth-great-britain/ (last visited June 28, 2025)
Annual change in sales value of OTC cold, cough and sore throat treatments in Great Britain from 2010 to 2024 [Graph], Proprietary Association of Great Britain, March 17, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/521898/otc-cold-cough-sore-throat-treatments-sales-growth-great-britain/
