Vienna: The global cocaine trade reached record-breaking levels in 2023, with production, consumption, and seizures all surging to new highs, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The agency’s annual World Drug Report identifies cocaine as the fastest-growing illicit drug market worldwide, driven by expanding production in Colombia and rising demand across North America, Europe, and South America.
The report found that illegal global cocaine production increased by nearly one-third last year, hitting an all-time high of over 3,708 tons. The surge was attributed largely to a rise in the area under coca bush cultivation in Colombia and new data indicating that yields per hectare were significantly higher about 50 percent more than previously estimated in 2022.
“This explosive growth is reshaping the global cocaine market. Production, seizures, and use of cocaine all hit new highs in 2023, making cocaine the world’s fastest-growing illicit drug market,” the UNODC said in a statement.
The estimated number of global cocaine users climbed to 25 million in 2023, up from 17 million a decade earlier. According to the report, demand remains concentrated in North America, Western and Central Europe, and South America, which cited user surveys and wastewater analysis as key indicators.
“These three regions continue to dominate the global cocaine market based on the number of people who used the drug in the past year,” the report stated.
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The 2025 #WorldDrugReport presents the latest info on drug use, production and trafficking.
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— UN Office on Drugs & Crime (@UNODC) June 26, 2025
The UNODC also warned of a sharp increase in the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs, particularly amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) such as methamphetamine and amphetamine.
The synthetic drug market is growing rapidly due to low production costs and a reduced risk of detection, making it an increasingly attractive venture for criminal networks.
The report calls for greater international coordination, stronger regulatory frameworks, and increased investment in health-based responses to curb the growing influence of illicit drug markets.
