howmuchworld

Home › Indicators › Alcohol consumption per capita

Alcohol consumption per capita

What this indicator measures

Amount of pure alcohol consumed on average per inhabitant aged 15 and over in a year, in liters (three-year average, WHO estimate). It counts recorded (sold) alcohol and an estimate of unrecorded alcohol.

How to read this?

A value of 10 means 10 liters of pure alcohol per year per inhabitant aged 15 and over, or about 100 bottles of wine.

Ranking : ranked from highest to lowest

Ctrl + scroll: zoom · drag: pan
202countries with data
20.1 L/personmaximum · U.S. Virgin Islands
4.3 L/personmedian
0 L/personminimum · Yemen
2024data year(s)

In brief

Alcohol consumption per capita: across 202 countries and territories, values range from 0 L/person (Yemen) to 20.1 L/person (U.S. Virgin Islands), with a world median of 4.3 L/person. Data: 2024. The top 10% of countries exceed 11.3 L/person, while the bottom 10% stay below 0.3 L/person. By continent, the median is highest in Europe (10.4 L/person) and lowest in Africa (2 L/person).

Median by continent

Lower Higher
  • Europe 10.4 L/person (40)
  • North America 8.1 L/person (31)
  • South America 5.9 L/person (12)
  • Asia 2.2 L/person (47)
  • Oceania 2.1 L/person (17)
  • Africa 2 L/person (51)

Why this indicator matters

Alcohol consumption is linked to many health risks and accidents. Comparing it sheds light on prevention issues from one country to another.

What makes this indicator vary

It depends on traditions, religions, prices and taxes, sales laws, advertising and income.

Reading precautions

Unrecorded alcohol (home production, smuggling) is estimated, so uncertain. The per capita average hides differences between drinkers and abstainers.

Full ranking

ranked from highest to lowest

RankCountryValueYear
1er🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands20.1 L/person2024
2e🇷🇴 Romania17.1 L/person2024
3e🇹🇨 Turks & Caicos Islands14.7 L/person2024
4e🇬🇪 Georgia14.4 L/person2024
5e🇱🇻 Latvia14.2 L/person2024
6e🇵🇹 Portugal13.7 L/person2024
7e🇨🇿 Czechia13.5 L/person2024
8e🇧🇬 Bulgaria13.2 L/person2024
9e🇨🇼 Curaçao13.2 L/person2024
10e🇲🇩 Moldova13 L/person2024
11e🇨🇲 Cameroon12.9 L/person2024
12e🇪🇸 Spain12.1 L/person2024
13e🇦🇼 Aruba12 L/person2024
14e🇱🇨 St. Lucia11.8 L/person2024
15e🇰🇾 Cayman Islands11.7 L/person2024
16e🇦🇹 Austria11.6 L/person2024
17e🇦🇩 Andorra11.6 L/person2024
18e🇵🇱 Poland11.5 L/person2024
19e🇱🇺 Luxembourg11.4 L/person2024
20e🇭🇺 Hungary11.4 L/person2024
21e🇧🇾 Belarus11.3 L/person2024
22e🇱🇹 Lithuania11.2 L/person2024
23e🇷🇸 Serbia11.2 L/person2024
24e🇫🇷 France11.2 L/person2024
25e🇧🇲 Bermuda11 L/person2024
26e🇭🇷 Croatia10.9 L/person2024
27e🇩🇪 Germany10.9 L/person2024
28e🇸🇮 Slovenia10.7 L/person2024
29e🇻🇳 Vietnam10.7 L/person2024
30e🇻🇬 British Virgin Islands10.7 L/person2024
31e🇦🇺 Australia10.5 L/person2024
32e🇬🇧 United Kingdom10.4 L/person2024
33e🇷🇺 Russia10.4 L/person2024
34e🇪🇪 Estonia10.4 L/person2024
35e🇧🇷 Brazil10.4 L/person2024
36e🇮🇪 Ireland10.3 L/person2024
37e🇨🇰 Cook Islands10.2 L/person2024
38e🇲🇪 Montenegro10.2 L/person2024
39e🇧🇧 Barbados10.1 L/person2024
40e🇺🇸 United States9.6 L/person2024
41e🇧🇪 Belgium9.5 L/person2024
42e🇩🇰 Denmark9.5 L/person2024
43e🇫🇮 Finland9.4 L/person2024
44e🇨🇦 Canada9.2 L/person2024
45e🇸🇰 Slovakia9.1 L/person2024
46e🇸🇨 Seychelles9 L/person2024
47e🇳🇿 New Zealand8.9 L/person2024
48e🇨🇭 Switzerland8.8 L/person2024
49e🇸🇪 Sweden8.7 L/person2024
50e🇿🇦 South Africa8.6 L/person2024
51e🇬🇩 Grenada8.6 L/person2024
52e🇬🇷 Greece8.6 L/person2024
53e🇳🇱 Netherlands8.6 L/person2024
54e🇳🇦 Namibia8.5 L/person2024
55e🇲🇺 Mauritius8.5 L/person2024
56e🇻🇨 St. Vincent & Grenadines8.4 L/person2024
57e🇮🇹 Italy8.4 L/person2024
58e🇰🇳 St. Kitts & Nevis8.3 L/person2024
59e🇰🇷 South Korea8.3 L/person2024
60e🇦🇬 Antigua & Barbuda8.2 L/person2024
61e🇳🇨 New Caledonia8.2 L/person2024
62e🇧🇸 Bahamas8.1 L/person2024
63e🇬🇦 Gabon8 L/person2024
64e🇹🇭 Thailand7.9 L/person2024
65e🇮🇸 Iceland7.7 L/person2024
66e🇲🇹 Malta7.6 L/person2024
67e🇵🇫 French Polynesia7.4 L/person2024
68e🇩🇲 Dominica7.3 L/person2024
69e🇵🇦 Panama7.2 L/person2024
70e🇲🇳 Mongolia7.1 L/person2024
71e🇦🇷 Argentina7.1 L/person2024
72e🇳🇴 Norway7 L/person2024
73e🇵🇾 Paraguay6.9 L/person2024
74e🇲🇽 Mexico6.7 L/person2024
75e🇦🇲 Armenia6.6 L/person2024
76e🇨🇱 Chile6.6 L/person2024
77e🇧🇦 Bosnia & Herzegovina6.6 L/person2024
78e🇬🇾 Guyana6.5 L/person2024
79e🇯🇵 Japan6.3 L/person2024
80e🇲🇰 North Macedonia6.2 L/person2024
81e🇵🇭 Philippines6.1 L/person2024
82e🇸🇿 Eswatini6.1 L/person2024
83e🇸🇷 Suriname6 L/person2024
84e🇰🇿 Kazakhstan6 L/person2024
85e🇱🇦 Laos5.9 L/person2024
86e🇵🇷 Puerto Rico5.9 L/person2024
87e🇺🇾 Uruguay5.8 L/person2024
88e🇨🇺 Cuba5.5 L/person2024
89e🇿🇼 Zimbabwe5.4 L/person2024
90e🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea5.3 L/person2024
91e🇮🇳 India5.2 L/person2024
92e🇩🇴 Dominican Republic5.2 L/person2024
93e🇧🇿 Belize5 L/person2024
94e🇹🇹 Trinidad & Tobago5 L/person2024
95e🇧🇫 Burkina Faso4.9 L/person2024
96e🇨🇴 Colombia4.9 L/person2024
97e🇧🇼 Botswana4.9 L/person2024
98e🇨🇾 Cyprus4.9 L/person2024
99e🇵🇪 Peru4.8 L/person2024
100e🇯🇲 Jamaica4.4 L/person2024
101e🇸🇹 São Tomé & Príncipe4.3 L/person2024
102e🇦🇱 Albania4.3 L/person2024
103e🇳🇮 Nicaragua4.3 L/person2024
104e🇱🇸 Lesotho4.2 L/person2024
105e🇮🇱 Israel4.2 L/person2024
106e🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire4.2 L/person2024
107e🇰🇭 Cambodia4.2 L/person2024
108e🇷🇼 Rwanda4.1 L/person2024
109e🇧🇯 Benin4.1 L/person2024
110e🇨🇻 Cape Verde4.1 L/person2024
111e🇺🇬 Uganda4 L/person2024
112e🇨🇷 Costa Rica4 L/person2024
113e🇺🇦 Ukraine3.9 L/person2024
114e🇨🇬 Congo - Brazzaville3.9 L/person2024
115e🇧🇴 Bolivia3.8 L/person2024
116e🇦🇴 Angola3.8 L/person2024
117e🇨🇳 China3.7 L/person2024
118e🇸🇻 El Salvador3.6 L/person2024
119e🇫🇯 Fiji3.5 L/person2024
120e🇭🇳 Honduras3.5 L/person2024
121e🇧🇮 Burundi3.5 L/person2024
122e🇭🇹 Haiti3.5 L/person2024
123e🇲🇴 Macao SAR China3.4 L/person2024
124e🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan3.3 L/person2024
125e🇸🇭 St. Helena3.3 L/person2024
126e🇪🇨 Ecuador3.2 L/person2024
127e🇧🇹 Bhutan3.1 L/person2024
128e🇬🇼 Guinea-Bissau3.1 L/person2024
129e🇬🇹 Guatemala3.1 L/person2024
130e🇹🇩 Chad3 L/person2024
131e🇼🇸 Samoa2.9 L/person2024
132e🇭🇰 Hong Kong SAR China2.9 L/person2024
133e🇰🇵 North Korea2.6 L/person2024
134e🇻🇪 Venezuela2.6 L/person2024
135e🇬🇭 Ghana2.6 L/person2024
136e🇱🇰 Sri Lanka2.5 L/person2024
137e🇲🇻 Maldives2.5 L/person2024
138e🇪🇹 Ethiopia2.3 L/person2024
139e🇦🇿 Azerbaijan2.3 L/person2024
140e🇰🇪 Kenya2.2 L/person2024
141e🇹🇷 Türkiye2.2 L/person2024
142e🇸🇬 Singapore2.2 L/person2024
143e🇿🇲 Zambia2.1 L/person2024
144e🇺🇿 Uzbekistan2.1 L/person2024
145e🇻🇺 Vanuatu2.1 L/person2024
146e🇳🇺 Niue2.1 L/person2024
147e🇳🇬 Nigeria2 L/person2024
148e🇧🇭 Bahrain2 L/person2024
149e🇱🇧 Lebanon2 L/person2024
150e🇲🇱 Mali2 L/person2024
151e🇲🇿 Mozambique2 L/person2024
152e🇳🇵 Nepal2 L/person2024
153e🇲🇲 Myanmar (Burma)1.9 L/person2024
154e🇨🇫 Central African Republic1.8 L/person2024
155e🇹🇳 Tunisia1.7 L/person2024
156e🇱🇷 Liberia1.7 L/person2024
157e🇨🇩 Congo - Kinshasa1.6 L/person2024
158e🇹🇲 Turkmenistan1.5 L/person2024
159e🇹🇬 Togo1.5 L/person2024
160e🇹🇿 Tanzania1.5 L/person2024
161e🇸🇩 Sudan1.4 L/person2024
162e🇪🇷 Eritrea1.4 L/person2024
163e🇶🇦 Qatar1.3 L/person2024
164e🇴🇲 Oman1.2 L/person2024
165e🇲🇼 Malawi1 L/person2024
166e🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea1 L/person2024
167e🇲🇾 Malaysia0.8 L/person2024
168e🇫🇲 Micronesia0.8 L/person2024
169e🇲🇬 Madagascar0.7 L/person2024
170e🇲🇭 Marshall Islands0.7 L/person2024
171e🇹🇯 Tajikistan0.7 L/person2024
172e🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates0.6 L/person2024
173e🇰🇮 Kiribati0.6 L/person2024
174e🇮🇶 Iraq0.6 L/person2024
175e🇸🇧 Solomon Islands0.6 L/person2024
176e🇬🇲 Gambia0.5 L/person2024
177e🇬🇳 Guinea0.5 L/person2024
178e🇲🇦 Morocco0.5 L/person2024
179e🇩🇿 Algeria0.4 L/person2024
180e🇩🇯 Djibouti0.3 L/person2024
181e🇸🇳 Senegal0.3 L/person2024
182e🇯🇴 Jordan0.3 L/person2024
183e🇸🇱 Sierra Leone0.2 L/person2024
184e🇹🇱 Timor-Leste0.2 L/person2024
185e🇹🇴 Tonga0.2 L/person2024
186e🇰🇲 Comoros0.1 L/person2024
187e🇳🇪 Niger0.1 L/person2024
188e🇰🇼 Kuwait0.1 L/person2024
189e🇸🇾 Syria0.1 L/person2024
190e🇪🇬 Egypt0.1 L/person2024
191e🇮🇩 Indonesia0.1 L/person2024
192e🇵🇰 Pakistan0.1 L/person2024
193e🇦🇫 Afghanistan0 L/person2024
194e🇮🇷 Iran0 L/person2024
195e🇧🇩 Bangladesh0 L/person2024
196e🇱🇾 Libya0 L/person2024
197e🇧🇳 Brunei0 L/person2024
197e🇲🇷 Mauritania0 L/person2024
197e🇳🇷 Nauru0 L/person2024
197e🇸🇴 Somalia0 L/person2024
197e🇹🇻 Tuvalu0 L/person2024
197e🇾🇪 Yemen0 L/person2024

Frequently asked questions

Which country has the highest value for "Alcohol consumption per capita"?

The highest value is in U.S. Virgin Islands, at 20.1 L/person (2024).

Which country has the lowest value for "Alcohol consumption per capita"?

The lowest value is in Yemen, at 0 L/person (2024).

What is the world median value of "Alcohol consumption per capita"?

The world median is 4.3 L/person, calculated across 202 countries: half of the countries are above it, the other half below.

What is the value of "Alcohol consumption per capita" for France?

France scores 11.2 L/person (2024), ranking 24 out of 202 countries (ranked from highest to lowest).

Where does the "Alcohol consumption per capita" data come from?

It comes from OMS – Global Health Observatory (consommation totale d'alcool par habitant, 15 ans et plus). Site last updated: November 8, 2026. Each country is shown with the year of its most recent value.

What does "liters of pure alcohol" mean?

It is the amount of ethanol contained in beverages, whatever their type: beer, wine or spirits.

Does this average reflect every inhabitant?

No. Many people do not drink at all, others drink a lot: the average hides these differences.

Source and update

Source : OMS – Global Health Observatory (consommation totale d'alcool par habitant, 15 ans et plus). Site last updated: November 8, 2026.

Indicators in the same category : Body and lifestyle