Which Countries Drink the Most Alcohol? - Falstaff (2024)

Alcohol has played a significant role in the leisure time of many in today’s society, and its usage dates back centuries. For many, it plays a crucial part in their social engagement, allowing individuals to bond more easily. Alcohol consumption, however, holds many risks regarding health, both physical and mental, and can also play a part in society’s ills, such as crime.

In various countries across the world, alcohol has a different meaning and placement in society; basically, it is more common for people to drink regularly in some countries than in others.

Looking at the amount of alcohol consumed per person aged 15 years or older, the Seychelles is in first place with around 20.5 litres of alcohol drunk per person per year, according to Our World in Data; studies show that young male peer groups primarily drink high amounts of alcohol in the Seychelles. Second place on the rankings list is Uganda with about 15 litres per year, followed by the Czech Republic with 14.45 litres, and Lithuania with 13.22 litres per year.

To account for the differences in alcohol content of various drinks (e.g. wine or beer), the values are reported in litres of pure alcohol per year. The global average consumption was 6.18 litres per person in 2018, the last year available, and as wine contains around 12 per cent of pure alcohol per volume, this equates to 53 bottles of wine per person.

Top 15 Countries Alcohol Consumption

  1. Seychelles: 20.50 litres
  2. Uganda: 15.09 litres
  3. Czech Republic: 14.45 litres
  4. Lithuania: 13.22 litres
  5. Luxembourg: 12.94 litres
  6. Germany: 12.91 litres
  7. Ireland: 12.88 litres
  8. Latvia: 12.77 litres
  9. Spain: 12.72 litres
  10. Bulgaria: 12.65 litres
  11. France: 12.33 litres
  12. Burkina Faso: 12.03 litres
  13. Portugal: 12.03 litres
  14. Austria: 11.96 litres
  15. Slovenia: 11.90 litres

Drinking habits

Similar drinking habits and amounts are shown in European countries such as Luxembourg with 12.94 litres, Germany with 12.91 litres, and Ireland with 12.88 litres. Eighth on the ranking is Latvia with 12.77 litres, followed by Spain with 12.72 litres. The top ten of highest alcohol consumption per person concludes with Bulgaria, 12.65 litres per person per year.

Given the data provided by Our World in Data, it is safe to say that European countries traditionally have a higher amount of alcohol consumed per person, 12 of the top 15 are in Europe. Figures also reveal that North Africa and the Middle East show a relatively low amount of alcohol intake.

Which Countries Drink the Most Alcohol? - Falstaff (2024)

FAQs

Which Countries Drink the Most Alcohol? - Falstaff? ›

Looking at the amount of alcohol consumed per person aged 15 years or older, the Seychelles is in first place with around 20.5 litres of alcohol drunk per person per year, according to Our World in Data; studies show that young male peer groups primarily drink high amounts of alcohol in the Seychelles.

Which country drinks the most alcohol in the world? ›

Top 15 Countries With The Highest Alcohol Consumption
  • #8: Austria. ...
  • #7: Seychelles. ...
  • #6: Uganda. ...
  • #5: Germany. ...
  • #4: Latvia. ...
  • #3: Czech Republic. ...
  • #2: Georgia. ...
  • #1: Romania. Coming in at number 1 on the list of countries with the highest alcohol consumption is Romania.
Feb 27, 2024

Who drinks more alcohol, the UK or the US? ›

The WHO stats places the UK at number 25 in terms of alcohol consumed per head of population, and the USA at number 48. However, in terms of the volume, rather than the league table, the numbers are 11.6 and 9.2 litres per head in the UK and the USA respectively.

Which Middle Eastern country drinks the most alcohol? ›

The WHO report went on to add that the United Arab Emirates are the largest consumers of alcohol in the Middle East region, followed by Iran (24.80) and Lebanon (23.90 liters). In Africa, the biggest alcohol consumers are the Chadians with an estimated (33.90 liters), followed by Gambia (30.9) and Mali (29.30).

Does Korea drink the most alcohol? ›

South Koreans drink 13.7 shots of liquor per week on average, which is the most in the world. And of 44 other countries analyzed by Euromonitor, none comes anywhere close.

What state has the highest alcoholism? ›

The study noted that states with the highest GDP — including Texas, California and New York — were found to be among the top states that have the highest risk of alcoholism.

What is the number 1 drinks in the world? ›

Water – most consumed beverage in the world

The first answer to this question is water. Water is the most consumed beverage globally, essential for human survival. You cannot live without drinking water. Besides, practicing the habit of drinking enough water every day will help people have a healthy body.

What country has the lowest rate of alcoholism? ›

According to the World Health Organization, US has the lowest rate of alcohol dependence with only 1.93 per cent.

Who drinks more Canada or us? ›

Just how much do Canadians like their beer, wine and booze? More than Americans, it turns out, but we're not lushes. Canadians drink more alcohol per capita than the worldwide average, according to the World Health Organization.

Do Americans drink more alcohol than Europeans? ›

Which country drinks the most alcohol? Among the 10 countries that drink the most in the world, nine are in the EU. But there are big differences between nations. If you feel that Europeans drink a lot, your hunch is correct: people across the continent consume more alcohol than in any other part of the world.

Which Caribbean country drinks the most alcohol? ›

In 2019, Barbados and Saint Lucia had the highest level of alcohol consumption in Latin America and the Caribbean among its population aged 15 years and older, with around 9.5 liters of pure alcohol per capita consumed yearly.

What is the drinking capital of the world? ›

Looking at the amount of alcohol consumed per person aged 15 years or older, the Seychelles is in first place with around 20.5 litres of alcohol drunk per person per year, according to Our World in Data; studies show that young male peer groups primarily drink high amounts of alcohol in the Seychelles.

Which ethnic groups drink the most alcohol? ›

Based on the 2001–2002 NESARC data, Caetano and colleagues (2010) reported that White men consumed a higher volume of alcohol (22.3 drinks per month) than Black men (18.9 drinks per month) and Hispanic men (17.8 drinks per month) and that White women consumed more (6.2 drinks per month) compared with Black women (4.9 ...

What countries do not drink alcohol? ›

Pakistan, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Mauritania, Libya, the Maldives, Iran, Kuwait, Brunei, and Bangladesh also have alcohol bans, as do some states in India (India is a Hindu-majority country but has a sizeable Muslim population).

What country eats the most alcohol? ›

According to the World Health Organization, the citizens of Czechia consumed the most alcohol per capita in 2019, with individuals consuming about 14.26 liters of pure alcohol. Latvia and Moldova follow with 13.19 and 12.85, respectively.

Who drinks more Irish or Korean? ›

Especially notable here is another high-scoring country, however: According to WHO, South Korean adults on average consumed 12.3 liters of alcohol in 2010, versus 11.9 in Ireland (and 17.5 in Belarus). Of course, alcohol consumption isn't necessarily the same thing as alcoholism.

Who drinks the most alcohol in the US? ›

Among the 50 states and Washington D.C., New Hampshire takes the crown for the most alcohol consumed per capita, reporting 4.43 gallons per capita per year.

What country drink drives the most? ›

The worst offenders

As reported in recent statistics on drink driving worldwide, one of the worst offending countries in the world for drink driving is South Africa.

Which country has the highest alcohol consumption in 2024? ›

When it comes to the amount of alcohol consumed per capita, Latvia tops the list at 13.19 liters per person annually. A close second is Moldova with an average consumption of 12.85 liters per person. In third place, we have Germany with an annual alcohol consumption of 12.79 liters per capita.

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