Maps
Mapped: The Most Common Illicit Drugs in the World
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Mapped: The Most Common Illicit Drugs in the World
Despite strict prohibitory laws around much of the world, many common illicit drugs still see widespread use.
Humans have a storied and complicated relationship with drugs. Defined as chemical substances that cause a change in our physiology or psychology, many drugs are taken medicinally or accepted culturally, like caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.
But many drugs—including medicines and non-medicinal substances taken as drugs—are taken recreationally and can be abused. Each country and people have their own relationship to drugs, with some embracing the use of specific substances while others shun them outright.
What are the most common drugs that are considered generally illicit in different parts of the world? Today’s graphics use data from the UN’s World Drug Report 2021 to highlight the most prevalent drug used in each country.
What Types of Common Drugs Are Tracked?
The World Drug Report looks explicitly at the supply and demand of the international illegal drug market, not including commonly legal substances like caffeine and alcohol.
Drugs are grouped by class and type, with six main types of drugs found as the most prevalent drugs worldwide.
- Cannabis*: Drugs derived from cannabis, including hemp. This category includes marijuana (dried flowers), hashish (resin), and other for various other parts of the plant or derived oils.
- Cocaine: Drugs derived from the leaves of coca plants. Labeled as either cocaine salts for powder form or crack for cocaine processed with baking soda and water into rock form.
- Opioids: Includes opiates which are derived directly from the opium poppy plant, including morphine, codeine, and heroin, as well as synthetic alkaloids.
- Amphetamine-type Stimulants (ATS): Amphetamine and drugs derived from amphetamine, including meth (also known as speed), MDMA, and ecstasy.
- Sedatives and Tranquilizers: Includes other drugs whose main purpose is to reduce energy, excitement, or anxiety, as well as drugs used primarily to initiate or help with sleep (also called hypnotics).
- Solvents and Inhalants: Gases or chemicals that can cause intoxication but are not intended to be drugs, including fuels, glues, and other industrial substances.
The report also tracked the prevalence of hallucinogens—psychoactive drugs which strongly affect the mind and cause a “trip”—but no hallucinogens ranked as the most prevalent drug in any one country.
*Editor’s note: Recreational cannabis is legal in five countries, and some non-federal jurisdictions (i.e. states). However, in the context of this report, it was included because it is still widely illicit in most countries globally.
The Most Prevalent Drug in Each Country
According to the report, 275 million people used drugs worldwide in 2020. Between the ages of 15–64, around 5.5% of the global population used drugs at least once.
Many countries grouped different types of the same drug class together, and a few like Saudi Arabia and North Macedonia had multiple different drug types listed as the most prevalent.
But across the board, cannabis was the most commonly prevalent drug used in 107 listed countries and territories:
Country or territory | Most Prevalent Drug(s) |
---|---|
Afghanistan | Heroin, opium |
Albania | Sedatives and tranquillizers (general) |
Algeria | Cannabis (general) |
Argentina | Cannabis (herb) |
Australia | Cannabis (general) |
Azerbaijan | Heroin |
Bahamas | Cannabis (herb) |
Bahrain | Cannabis (general) |
Bangladesh | Amphetamine |
Belarus | Opium |
Belgium | Cannabis (herb) |
Bolivia | Cannabis (herb) |
Brunei | Cannabis (herb) |
Bulgaria | Cannabis (herb) |
Burkina Faso | Cannabis (general) |
Canada | Cannabis (herb) |
Central African Republic | Cannabis (herb) |
Chile | Cannabis (herb) |
China | Methamphetamine |
Costa Rica | Cannabis (herb) |
Côte d'Ivoire | Cannabis (herb) |
Croatia | Heroin |
Cyprus | Cannabis (general) |
Czech Republic | Benzodiazepines |
Dominican Republic | Cocaine (powder) |
Ecuador | Cannabis (herb) |
El Salvador | Cannabis (herb) |
Estonia | Cannabis (herb) |
Finland | Cannabis (herb) |
France | Cannabis (hashish) |
Georgia | Cannabis (herb) |
Germany | Cannabis (herb) |
Gibraltar | Cannabis (hashish) |
Greece | Solvents and inhalants (general) |
Guatemala | Cannabis (herb) |
Honduras | Cannabis (herb) |
Hong Kong | Heroin, opium, opioids |
Hungary | Cannabis (herb) |
Iceland | Cannabis (general) |
India | Heroin |
Indonesia | Cannabis (herb) |
Iran | Opium |
Ireland | Cannabis (herb) |
Israel | Cannabis (herb) |
Italy | Cannabis (general) |
Japan | Methamphetamine |
Jordan | Cannabis (hashish) |
Kenya | Cannabis (herb) |
Latvia | Cannabis (herb) |
Lebanon | Cannabis (hashish) |
Liechtenstein | Cannabis (hashish) |
Lithuania | Sedatives and tranquillizers (general) |
Luxembourg | Cannabis (general) |
Macao | Methamphetamine |
Madagascar | Cannabis (herb) |
Malaysia | Methamphetamine |
Malta | Heroin |
Mexico | Cannabis (herb) |
Moldova | Cannabis (herb) |
Mongolia | Methamphetamine |
Mozambique | Cannabis (herb) |
Myanmar | Heroin |
Netherlands | Benzodiazepines |
New Zealand | Methamphetamine, solvent and inhalants |
Nicaragua | Cannabis (herb) |
Nigeria | Cannabis (herb) |
North Macedonia | Multiple types |
Norway | Cannabis (general) |
Oman | Opium |
Pakistan | Cannabis (hashish) |
Panama | Cannabis (herb) |
Peru | Cannabis (herb) |
Philippines | Cannabis (herb) |
Poland | Cannabis (herb) |
Portugal | Cannabis (general) |
Qatar | Cannabis (hashish) |
Romania | Cannabis (general) |
Saudi Arabia | Multiple types |
Senegal | Cannabis (herb) |
Serbia | Benzodiazepines |
Singapore | Methamphetamine |
Slovenia | Cannabis (general) |
South Africa | Cannabis (general) |
South Korea | Methamphetamine |
Spain | Cannabis (herb) |
Sri Lanka | Cannabis (herb) |
Sudan | Cannabis (herb) |
Suriname | Cannabis (herb) |
Sweden | Cannabis (general) |
Switzerland | Cannabis (herb) |
Syrian Arab Republic | Cannabis (hashish) |
Tajikistan | Heroin, opium |
Tanzania | Cannabis (herb) |
Thailand | Methamphetamine |
Togo | Cannabis (herb) |
Trinidad and Tobago | Cocaine (crack) |
Tunisia | Cannabis (general) |
Turkey | Cannabis (herb) |
Turkmenistan | Opium |
U.S. | Cannabis (herb) |
UK | Cannabis (herb) |
Ukraine | Opioids |
Uruguay | Cannabis (herb) |
Uzbekistan | Cannabis (herb) |
Venezuela | Benzodiazepines |
Vietnam | Heroin |
Zambia | Cannabis (herb) |
How prevalent is cannabis worldwide? 72 locations or more than two-thirds of those reporting listed cannabis as the most prevalent drug.
Unsurprisingly these include countries that have legalized recreational cannabis: Canada, Georgia, Mexico, South Africa, and Uruguay.
How Common Are Opioids and Other Drugs?
Though the global prevalence of cannabis is unsurprising, especially as it becomes legalized and accepted in more countries, other drugs also have strong footholds.
Opioids (14 locations) were the most prevalent drugs in the Middle-East, South and Central Asia, including in India and Iran. Notably, Afghanistan is the world’s largest producer of opium, supplying more than 90% of illicit heroin globally.
Amphetamine-type drugs (9 locations) were the third-most common drugs overall, mainly in East Asia. Methamphetamine was the reported most prevalent drug in China, South Korea, and Japan, while amphetamine was only the most common drug in Bangladesh.
However, it’s important to note that illicit drug usage is tough to track. Asian countries where cannabis is less frequently found (or reported) might understate its usage. At the same time, the opioid epidemic in the U.S. and Canada reflects high opioid usage in the West.
As some drugs become more widespread and others face a renewed “war,” the landscape is certain to shift over the next few years.
Politics
Mapped: The World’s Legal Government Systems
The political regimes of the world’s countries have changed over centuries. This map charts the nine government systems that rule the world today.

Mapping The World’s Legal Government Systems
With over 200 countries existing across the world with unique cultures and traditions, one might assume that there are hundreds of types of government systems. But both historically and in modern times, that’s not the case.
Even while political regimes across these countries have changed over time, they’ve largely followed a few different types of governance. Today, every country can ultimately be classified into just nine broad forms of government systems.
This map by Truman Du uses information from Wikipedia to map the government systems that rule the world today.
Countries By Type of Government
It’s important to note that this map charts government systems according to each country’s legal framework.
Many countries have constitutions stating their de jure or legally recognized system of government, but their de facto or realized form of governance may be quite different.
Here is a list of the stated government system of UN member states and observers as of January 2023:
Country | Constitutional form | Head of state |
---|---|---|
Afghanistan | Provisional | n/a |
Albania | Republic | Ceremonial |
Algeria | Republic | Executive |
Andorra | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Angola | Republic | Executive |
Antigua and Barbuda | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Argentina | Republic | Executive |
Armenia | Republic | Ceremonial |
Australia | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Austria | Republic | Ceremonial |
Azerbaijan | Republic | Executive |
Bahamas, The | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Bahrain | Constitutional monarchy | Executive |
Bangladesh | Republic | Ceremonial |
Barbados | Republic | Ceremonial |
Belarus | Republic | Executive |
Belgium | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Belize | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Benin | Republic | Executive |
Bhutan | Constitutional monarchy | Executive |
Bolivia | Republic | Executive |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Republic | Ceremonial |
Botswana | Republic | Executive |
Brazil | Republic | Executive |
Brunei | Absolute monarchy | Executive |
Bulgaria | Republic | Ceremonial |
Burkina Faso | Provisional | n/a |
Burundi | Republic | Executive |
Cambodia | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Cameroon | Republic | Executive |
Canada | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Cape Verde | Republic | Executive |
Central African Republic | Republic | Executive |
Chad | Provisional | n/a |
Chile | Republic | Executive |
China, People's Republic of | Republic | Ceremonial |
Colombia | Republic | Executive |
Comoros | Republic | Executive |
Congo, Democratic Republic of the | Republic | Executive |
Congo, Republic of the | Republic | Executive |
Costa Rica | Republic | Executive |
Côte d'Ivoire | Republic | Executive |
Croatia | Republic | Ceremonial |
Cuba | Republic | Executive |
Cyprus | Republic | Executive |
Czech Republic | Republic | Ceremonial |
Denmark | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Djibouti | Republic | Executive |
Dominica | Republic | Ceremonial |
Dominican Republic | Republic | Executive |
East Timor | Republic | Executive |
Ecuador | Republic | Executive |
Egypt | Republic | Executive |
El Salvador | Republic | Executive |
Equatorial Guinea | Republic | Executive |
Eritrea | Republic | Executive |
Estonia | Republic | Ceremonial |
Eswatini | Absolute monarchy | Executive |
Ethiopia | Republic | Ceremonial |
Fiji | Republic | Ceremonial |
Finland | Republic | Ceremonial |
France | Republic | Executive |
Gabon | Republic | Executive |
Gambia, The | Republic | Executive |
Georgia | Republic | Ceremonial |
Germany | Republic | Ceremonial |
Ghana | Republic | Executive |
Greece | Republic | Ceremonial |
Grenada | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Guatemala | Republic | Executive |
Guinea | Provisional | n/a |
Guinea-Bissau | Republic | Executive |
Guyana | Republic | Executive |
Haiti | Republic | Executive |
Honduras | Republic | Executive |
Hungary | Republic | Ceremonial |
Iceland | Republic | Ceremonial |
India | Republic | Ceremonial |
Indonesia | Republic | Executive |
Iran | Republic | Executive |
Iraq | Republic | Ceremonial |
Ireland | Republic | Ceremonial |
Israel | Republic | Ceremonial |
Italy | Republic | Ceremonial |
Jamaica | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Japan | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Jordan | Constitutional monarchy | Executive |
Kazakhstan | Republic | Executive |
Kenya | Republic | Executive |
Kiribati | Republic | Executive |
Kuwait | Constitutional monarchy | Executive |
Kyrgyzstan | Republic | Executive |
Laos | Republic | Executive |
Latvia | Republic | Ceremonial |
Lebanon | Republic | Ceremonial |
Lesotho | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Liberia | Republic | Executive |
Libya | Provisional | n/a |
Liechtenstein | Constitutional monarchy | Executive |
Lithuania | Republic | Executive |
Luxembourg | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Madagascar | Republic | Executive |
Malawi | Republic | Executive |
Malaysia | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Maldives | Republic | Executive |
Mali | Provisional | n/a |
Malta | Republic | Ceremonial |
Marshall Islands | Republic | Executive |
Mauritania | Republic | Executive |
Mauritius | Republic | Ceremonial |
Mexico | Republic | Executive |
Micronesia | Republic | Executive |
Moldova | Republic | Ceremonial |
Monaco | Constitutional monarchy | Executive |
Mongolia | Republic | Executive |
Montenegro | Republic | Ceremonial |
Morocco | Constitutional monarchy | Executive |
Mozambique | Republic | Executive |
Myanmar | Provisional | n/a |
Namibia | Republic | Executive |
Nauru | Republic | Executive |
Nepal | Republic | Ceremonial |
Netherlands | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
New Zealand | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Nicaragua | Republic | Executive |
Niger | Republic | Executive |
Nigeria | Republic | Executive |
North Korea | Republic | Executive |
North Macedonia | Republic | Ceremonial |
Norway | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Oman | Absolute monarchy | Executive |
Pakistan | Republic | Ceremonial |
Palau | Republic | Executive |
Palestine | Republic | Executive |
Panama | Republic | Executive |
Papua New Guinea | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Paraguay | Republic | Executive |
Peru | Republic | Executive |
Philippines | Republic | Executive |
Poland | Republic | Ceremonial |
Portugal | Republic | Executive |
Qatar | Constitutional monarchy | Executive |
Romania | Republic | Executive |
Russia | Republic | Executive |
Rwanda | Republic | Executive |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Saint Lucia | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Samoa | Republic | Ceremonial |
San Marino | Republic | Executive |
São Tomé and Príncipe | Republic | Executive |
Saudi Arabia | Absolute monarchy | Executive |
Senegal | Republic | Executive |
Serbia | Republic | Ceremonial |
Seychelles | Republic | Executive |
Sierra Leone | Republic | Executive |
Singapore | Republic | Ceremonial |
Slovakia | Republic | Ceremonial |
Slovenia | Republic | Ceremonial |
Solomon Islands | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Somalia | Republic | Ceremonial |
South Africa | Republic | Executive |
South Korea | Republic | Executive |
South Sudan | Republic | Executive |
Spain | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Sri Lanka | Republic | Executive |
Sudan | Provisional | n/a |
Suriname | Republic | Executive |
Sweden | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Switzerland | Republic | Executive |
Syria | Republic | Executive |
Tajikistan | Republic | Executive |
Tanzania | Republic | Executive |
Thailand | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Togo | Republic | Executive |
Tonga | Constitutional monarchy | Executive |
Trinidad and Tobago | Republic | Ceremonial |
Tunisia | Republic | Executive |
Turkey | Republic | Executive |
Turkmenistan | Republic | Executive |
Tuvalu | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
Uganda | Republic | Executive |
Ukraine | Republic | Executive |
United Arab Emirates | Constitutional monarchy | Executive |
United Kingdom | Constitutional monarchy | Ceremonial |
United States | Republic | Executive |
Uruguay | Republic | Executive |
Uzbekistan | Republic | Executive |
Vanuatu | Republic | Ceremonial |
Vatican City | Absolute monarchy | Executive |
Venezuela | Republic | Executive |
Vietnam | Republic | Executive |
Yemen | Provisional | n/a |
Zambia | Republic | Executive |
Zimbabwe | Republic | Executive |
Let’s take a closer look at some of these systems.
Monarchies
Brought back into the spotlight after the death of Queen Elizabeth II of England in September 2022, this form of government has a single ruler. They carry titles from king and queen to sultan or emperor, and their government systems can be further divided into three modern types: constitutional, semi-constitutional, and absolute.
A constitutional monarchy sees the monarch act as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, giving them little to no real power. For example, King Charles III is the head of 15 Commonwealth nations including Canada and Australia. However, each has their own head of government.
On the other hand, a semi-constitutional monarchy lets the monarch or ruling royal family retain substantial political powers, as is the case in Jordan and Morocco. However, their monarchs still rule the country according to a democratic constitution and in concert with other institutions.
Finally, an absolute monarchy is most like the monarchies of old, where the ruler has full power over governance, with modern examples including Saudi Arabia and Vatican City.
Republics
Unlike monarchies, the people hold the power in a republic government system, directly electing representatives to form government. Again, there are multiple types of modern republic governments: presidential, semi-presidential, and parliamentary.
The presidential republic could be considered a direct progression from monarchies. This system has a strong and independent chief executive with extensive powers when it comes to domestic affairs and foreign policy. An example of this is the United States, where the President is both the head of state and the head of government.
In a semi-presidential republic, the president is the head of state and has some executive powers that are independent of the legislature. However, the prime minister (or chancellor or equivalent title) is the head of government, responsible to the legislature along with the cabinet. Russia is a classic example of this type of government.
The last type of republic system is parliamentary. In this system, the president is a figurehead, while the head of government holds real power and is validated by and accountable to the parliament. This type of system can be seen in Germany, Italy, and India and is akin to constitutional monarchies.
It’s also important to point out that some parliamentary republic systems operate slightly differently. For example in South Africa, the president is both the head of state and government, but is elected directly by the legislature. This leaves them (and their ministries) potentially subject to parliamentary confidence.
One-Party State
Many of the systems above involve multiple political parties vying to rule and govern their respective countries.
In a one-party state, also called a single-party state or single-party system, only one political party has the right to form government. All other political parties are either outlawed or only allowed limited participation in elections.
In this system, a country’s head of state and head of government can be executive or ceremonial but political power is constitutionally linked to a single political movement. China is the most well-known example of this government system, with the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China ruling as the de facto leader since 1989.
Provisional
The final form of government is a provisional government formed as an interim or transitional government.
In this system, an emergency governmental body is created to manage political transitions after the collapse of a government, or when a new state is formed. Often these evolve into fully constitutionalized systems, but sometimes they hold power for longer than expected.
Some examples of countries that are considered provisional include Libya, Burkina Faso, and Chad.
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