Alcohol Consumption By Country

Alcohol consumption rates can reveal noteworthy socio-economic and cultural patterns and have significant public health implications. Understanding these consumption trends and their impacts is critical for national healthcare services, liquor industries, policy makers and anyone looking to gain a more comprehensive perspective on global drinking habits. 

According to recent data, it's evident that consumption rates vary considerably between nations. For instance, the United States' per capita alcohol consumption in liters in 2022 was 9.97L, which, while sizable, is substantially less than that of other countries. 

Key findings from the data include:

• Latvia leads the world in per capita alcohol consumption at 13.19L, followed closely by Moldova (12.85L), Germany (12.79L), and Lithuania (12.78L).
• In comparison to these countries, the United States ranks lower, with a per capita alcohol consumption of 9.97L.
• On the other end of the spectrum, countries such as Afghanistan and Libya exhibit exceptionally low rates of alcohol consumption at just 0.01L and 0.03L respectively, likely influenced by the prevalent religious beliefs and related legal restrictions within these societies.
• European nations generally report higher rates of alcohol consumption, with countries like Ireland (12.75L), Spain (12.67L), and Romania (12.34L) showing significant figures. This could be attributed to cultural factors, such as traditional drinking norms and practices.
• In contrast, alcohol consumption seems to be much lower across many Asian countries, such as Indonesia (0.22L) and Pakistan (0.31L), where cultural and religious beliefs often discourage alcohol use.

Analyzing the variances in alcohol consumption across different countries allows us to grasp the influences of culture, religion, legal restrictions, and socioeconomic factors on drinking habits. It also underpins the importance of crafting culturally-sensitive public health messaging about responsible drinking and the risks of alcohol consumption.

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. Coming in closely at fourth place is Lithuania with 12.78 liters per capita, followed by Ireland at fifth, consuming an average of 12.75 liters of alcohol per person, per year.

In the sixth position, Spain records a per capita consumption of 12.67 liters annually, just slightly ahead of Uganda's 12.48 liters. Bulgarian citizens consume an average of 12.46 liters earning the Eastern European country the eighth spot. The grand duchy of Luxembourg is not far behind with 12.45 liters per capita, while Romania completes the list of top ten countries in alcohol consumption, with an average of 12.34 liters.

10 Countries with the Highest Alcohol Consumption Per Capita, in Liters:

1. Latvia - 13.19L
2. Moldova - 12.85L
3. Germany - 12.79L
4. Lithuania - 12.78L
5. Ireland - 12.75L
6. Spain - 12.67L
7. Uganda - 12.48L
8. Bulgaria - 12.46L
9. Luxembourg - 12.45L
10. Romania - 12.3

The ten countries with the lowest alcohol consumption per capita are Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, Egypt, Syria, Bhutan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Djibouti, and Iraq. The lowest alcohol consumption per capita is observed in Afghanistan, where the average consumption is a mere 0.01 liters per person. Following Afghanistan are Libya and Yemen, which both have an average alcohol consumption of 0.03 liters per person. 

Egypt records a slightly higher consumption, at 0.14 liters per capita, meanwhile Syria's average consumption stands at 0.19 liters per capita. Bhutan and Indonesia report similarly low levels, with consumption rates at 0.21 liters and 0.22 liters per capita respectively. 

A bit higher on the spectrum, Pakistan observes an average of 0.31 liters of alcohol consumed per capita. The remaining countries with the lowest alcohol consumption per capita are Djibouti and Iraq, recording 0.36 liters and 0.37 liters respectively.

The ten countries with the lowest alcohol consumption per capita are:

1. Afghanistan - 0.01 L
2. Libya - 0.03 L
3. Yemen - 0.03 L
4. Egypt - 0.14 L
5. Syria - 0.19 L
6. Bhutan - 0.21 L
7. Indonesia - 0.22 L
8. Pakistan - 0.31 L
9. Djibouti - 0.36 L
10. Iraq - 0.37 L

To sort the data in the table, click on the column headers.