The bar chart illustrates a comparison of sales drugs in different regions around the world from 2002 to 2006. In short, in Europe, Africa and South America the rates were fluctuating during this period. While the sales of drugs were significantly rising in Asia, the percentage of drug company’s sales in North America were decreasing. Importantly, the most pronounced change occurred in the first half of the span: the sales in Asia increased from 12% in a previous year up to 20% in 2003.
In 2002, in Europe and Africa the rate of total sales was the largest compared to other continents, and figures further was growing to 48% in 2004. After that, there was a steady increase up to 40% at the end of the period. Next on the list, South America had the similar trend. Initially, the rate there was the lowest among all mainland, during next two years the figures significantly dropped up to 6%, yet in 2005 and in the end of the period it was the same as originally.
There was a gradual and stable increase in the total sales of drugs in Asia: it started out from 12 %, just over than in South America, and risen to 28% in 2006, ranked second after Europe and South America. In contrast, the figures in North America had been decreasing since the start of the span; it was steeply falling until 21% in 2004, after that there was not change in North America.