Opportunities in the Global OTC Healthcare Sector 2025

Opportunities in the Global OTC Healthcare Sector 2025

Summary

The global OTC healthcare sector was valued at $178.7 billion in 2024 and will reach $202.7 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.6%. In 2024, traditional medicines was the largest category by value, accounting for a share of 22.1%, followed by cough, cold and allergy preparations, with 19.8%. Americas represented the leading region in value terms, amassing a share of 37.8% in 2024. Asia-Pacific, with a value share of 36.1%, is expected to register the highest CAGR during 2024-29, at 3%. Traditional retail, comprising pharmacies, chemists, parapharmacies, drugstores, and independent stores, was the leading distribution channel in the global OTC healthcare sector in 2024, with a value share of 64.1%.

Provides an overview of the current sector scenarios in terms of ingredients, manufacturer claims, and labeling. The analysis also provides a regional overview across five regions-Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa (MEA), the Americas, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe-highlighting sector size, growth drivers, the latest developments, and future challenges for each region.

Key Highlights

• Americas represented the leading region for the global OTC healthcare sector in value terms in 2024. The global sector was fragmented, with Haleon leading the sector, followed by Johnson and Johnson Services, Bayer, Sanofi-Aventis, and Reckitt Benckiser. Traditional retail, comprising pharmacies, chemists, parapharmacies, drugstores, and independent stores, was the leading distribution channel in the global OTC healthcare sector in 2024. This was followed by modern retail, comprising supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores, and ecommerce.
• The rising prevalence of lifestyle diseases, such as obesity and diabetes, has led to a notable demand for convenient, affordable, and accessible OTC products that address these health issues. Younger consumer demographics tend to prefer OTC products that offer convenience due to their busy lifestyles. Alongside demand from geriatric populations due to aging-related health conditions, this generational shift indicates a broader trend towards self-care and personal health management, boding well for the OTC healthcare sector. Consumers are becoming more educated about health-related and functional ingredients, leading to an increased demand for natural and plant-based components in OTC healthcare products.

Scope

This report brings together multiple data sources to provide a comprehensive overview of the global OTC healthcare sector, analyzing data from 108 countries. It includes analysis on the following -

• Global snapshot: Includes executive summary, current sector scenarios in terms of ingredients, manufacturer claims, and labeling. The section also touches on the key growth enablers and inhibi-tors for the OTC healthcare sector.
• Sector snapshot: The analysis provides a global overview, along with regional and category-level data and analysis. It also includes regional overview across five regions-Americas, Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Western Europe-highlighting sector size and evolution, value and volume shares by category, and growth drivers for each region.
• Consumer trends: Provides an overview of evolving consumer trends, supported by GlobalData’s in-house consumer surveys, and product examples.
• Country deep-dive: Provides risk-reward analysis of the top high-potential countries in each region based on market assessment, economic development, governance indicators,
• sociodemographic factors, and technological infrastructure. Provides a deep-dive analysis of 10 high-potential countries covering value growth during 2024-29, consumer demographics, and key trends. It also includes regional analysis covering the outlook for each region.
• Competitive environment and brand shares: Provides an overview of the leading companies and brands at global and regional levels. Market shares of brands and private labels in each region are also detailed.
• Distribution overview: Provides an analysis of the leading distribution channels in the global OTC healthcare sector in 2024. It covers modern retail, traditional retail, specialist retail, direct sellers, cash and carriers and warehouse clubs, and others.
• Select industry metrics: The section provides topline statistics and analysis for different alternate datasets, such as patent filings, job analytics, and deals in 2024.

Reasons to Buy

• Manufacturers and retailers seek latest information on how the market is evolving to formulate their sales and marketing strategies. There is also demand for authentic market data with a high level of detail. This report has been created to provide its readers with up-to-date information and analysis to uncover emerging opportunities of growth within the sector in the region
• The report provides a detailed analysis of the countries in the region, covering the key challenges, competitive landscape and demographic analysis, that can help companies gain insight into the country specific nuances
• The analysts have also placed a significant emphasis on the key trends that drive consumer choice and the future opportunities that can be explored in the region, than can help companies in revenue expansion
• To gain competitive intelligence about leading brands in the sector in the region with information about their market share and growth rates