Australia, New Zealand Lead World in Per Capita Cocaine Use, UN Reports

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime's World Drug Report 2025, Australia and New Zealand have become the world's biggest per-capita users of cocaine amid a global rise in drug consumption. While the Americas lead in total cocaine use, Australia and New Zealand top the charts on a per-capita basis, with 3% of their populations aged 15 to 64 using the drug, nearly double the rate in the Americas and triple that in Europe. Wastewater analysis indicates that most users in these countries consume cocaine occasionally rather than habitually. The report highlights that organized drug trafficking groups are exploiting global instability, weak enforcement, and affluent markets like Australia, where high street prices and vast coastlines make drug enforcement challenging. In December 2023, Australian Federal Police seized 2.34 tonnes of cocaine worth approximately A$760 million, marking one of the largest drug busts. UNODC Executive Director Ghada Waly emphasized the need for investment in prevention and addressing the root causes of the drug trade across the supply chain.