Beer consumption per person in Japan
Japan: Beer consumption per person was 1.21 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year in 2022. ▬ Flat
Latest (2022)
1.21 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year
Change on year
up 9.0%
World rank
105th
of 187 countries
All-time high
3.55 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year
in 1994
All-time low
0.99 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year
in 1961
Years of data
62
1961–2022
Beer consumption per person in Japan, 1961–2022
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in Litres of pure alcohol per person per year.
Analysis
In 2022, beer consumption per person in Japan stood at 1.21 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year.
The figure is up 9.0% on the previous year and down 21.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, beer consumption per person in Japan peaked at 3.55 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year in 1994 and was at its lowest, 0.99 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year, in 1961.
That places Japan 105th out of 187 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Beer consumption per person in Japan, year by year
| Year | Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.99 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | — |
| 1962 | 0.99 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 1.13 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +14.1% |
| 1964 | 1.27 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +12.4% |
| 1965 | 1.23 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -3.1% |
| 1966 | 1.31 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +6.5% |
| 1967 | 1.49 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +13.7% |
| 1968 | 1.45 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -2.7% |
| 1969 | 1.62 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +11.7% |
| 1970 | 1.72 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +6.2% |
| 1971 | 1.75 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +1.7% |
| 1972 | 1.94 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +10.9% |
| 1973 | 2.1 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +8.2% |
| 1974 | 1.96 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -6.7% |
| 1975 | 2.08 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +6.1% |
| 1976 | 1.96 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -5.8% |
| 1977 | 2.24 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +14.3% |
| 1978 | 2.28 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +1.8% |
| 1979 | 2.39 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +4.8% |
| 1980 | 2.3 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -3.8% |
| 1981 | 2.37 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +3.0% |
| 1982 | 2.43 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 2.46 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 2.33 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -5.3% |
| 1985 | 2.33 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +0.0% |
| 1986 | 2.47 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +6.0% |
| 1987 | 2.64 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +6.9% |
| 1988 | 2.84 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +7.6% |
| 1989 | 2.91 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 3 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 3.28 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +9.3% |
| 1992 | 3.3 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +0.6% |
| 1993 | 3.31 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 3.55 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +7.3% |
| 1995 | 3.23 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -9.0% |
| 1996 | 3.24 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 3.13 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -3.4% |
| 1998 | 2.87 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -8.3% |
| 1999 | 2.7 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -5.9% |
| 2000 | 2.5 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -7.4% |
| 2001 | 3.08 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +23.2% |
| 2002 | 2.98 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 2.79 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -6.4% |
| 2004 | 2.62 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -6.1% |
| 2005 | 2.29 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -12.6% |
| 2006 | 2.16 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -5.7% |
| 2007 | 2.1 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 1.92 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -8.6% |
| 2009 | 1.77 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -7.8% |
| 2010 | 1.66 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -6.2% |
| 2011 | 1.58 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 1.55 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 1.53 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 1.51 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 1.53 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 1.51 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 1.45 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -4.0% |
| 2018 | 1.35 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -6.9% |
| 2019 | 1.27 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -5.9% |
| 2020 | 1.08 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -15.0% |
| 2021 | 1.11 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +2.8% |
| 2022 | 1.21 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +9.0% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 1.21 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.3 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year, 37% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Japan's 1.21 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.967 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year, 1.3× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.28 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 0.99 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.62 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.04 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.72 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 2.39 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.51 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 2.3 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 2.91 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.16 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 2.7 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 3.55 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.42 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.77 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 3.08 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.49 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.27 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.66 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.13 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.08 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.21 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 3 |
Countries ranked near Japan
- 102 Jamaica 1.28 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year compare
- 103 Singapore 1.27 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year compare
- 104 Israel 1.25 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year compare
- 105 China 1.21 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year compare
- 107 Zambia 1.19 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year compare
- 108 Mozambique 1.09 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year compare
More economy & growth data for Japan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.03 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 0.4463 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 217.76 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0491 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,765 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 45.81 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 142.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0103 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 371.3 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 11.44 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is beer consumption per person in Japan?
- Beer consumption per person in Japan was 1.21 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year in 2022, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest beer consumption per person recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 3.55 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year in 1994.
- What is the lowest beer consumption per person recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.99 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year in 1961.
- How does Japan rank for beer consumption per person?
- Japan ranks 105th out of 187 countries with data for 2022.
- Is beer consumption per person rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Japan data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Beer consumption per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Average annual per capita beer consumption, measured in liters of pure alcohol. Beer contains around 5% of pure alcohol per volume so that one liter of beer contains 0.05 liters of pure alcohol. This means that 5 liters of pure alcohol equals 100 liters of beer.