Beer consumption per person in South Korea
South Korea: Beer consumption per person was 1.67 in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Beer consumption per person in South Korea, 1961–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for beer consumption per person in South Korea is 1.67, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.7% on the previous year and down 15.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, beer consumption per person in South Korea peaked at 2.48 in 1995 and was at its lowest, 0.02, in 1962.
That places South Korea 95th out of 187 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Beer consumption per person in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.04 | — |
| 1962 | 0.02 | -50.0% |
| 1963 | 0.04 | +100.0% |
| 1964 | 0.07 | +75.0% |
| 1965 | 0.12 | +71.4% |
| 1966 | 0.11 | -8.3% |
| 1967 | 0.15 | +36.4% |
| 1968 | 0.12 | -20.0% |
| 1969 | 0.15 | +25.0% |
| 1970 | 0.22 | +46.7% |
| 1971 | 0.27 | +22.7% |
| 1972 | 0.21 | -22.2% |
| 1973 | 0.28 | +33.3% |
| 1974 | 0.34 | +21.4% |
| 1975 | 0.36 | +5.9% |
| 1976 | 0.38 | +5.6% |
| 1977 | 0.47 | +23.7% |
| 1978 | 0.84 | +78.7% |
| 1979 | 1.18 | +40.5% |
| 1980 | 1.04 | -11.9% |
| 1981 | 1.04 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 1.06 | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 1.17 | +10.4% |
| 1984 | 1.22 | +4.3% |
| 1985 | 1.24 | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 1.23 | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 1.32 | +7.3% |
| 1988 | 1.51 | +14.4% |
| 1989 | 1.74 | +15.2% |
| 1990 | 2.02 | +16.1% |
| 1991 | 2.41 | +19.3% |
| 1992 | 2.33 | -3.3% |
| 1993 | 2.23 | -4.3% |
| 1994 | 2.47 | +10.8% |
| 1995 | 2.48 | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 2.15 | -13.3% |
| 1997 | 2.04 | -5.1% |
| 1998 | 1.73 | -15.2% |
| 1999 | 1.75 | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 2.19 | +25.1% |
| 2001 | 2.33 | +6.4% |
| 2002 | 2.37 | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 2.28 | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 2.25 | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 1.89 | -16.0% |
| 2006 | 2.22 | +17.5% |
| 2007 | 2.34 | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 2.43 | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 2.37 | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 1.89 | -20.3% |
| 2011 | 1.93 | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 1.98 | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 2.1 | +6.1% |
| 2014 | 2.02 | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 2.03 | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 2 | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 1.94 | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 1.9 | -2.1% |
| 2019 | 1.84 | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 1.63 | -11.4% |
| 2021 | 1.58 | -3.1% |
| 2022 | 1.67 | +5.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1.67 is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.3, 51% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 1.67 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.967, 1.7× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Beer consumption per person in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | +100.0% | 0.02 | 0.04 |
| 1978 | +78.7% | 0.47 | 0.84 |
| 1964 | +75.0% | 0.04 | 0.07 |
| 1965 | +71.4% | 0.07 | 0.12 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0911 | 0.02 | 0.15 | 9 |
| 1970s | 0.455 | 0.21 | 1.18 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.26 | 1.04 | 1.74 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.16 | 1.73 | 2.48 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.27 | 1.89 | 2.43 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.96 | 1.84 | 2.1 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.63 | 1.58 | 1.67 | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More economy & growth data for South Korea
- Real gdp growth, annual growth rate -49.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, annual growth rate 7.89 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0085 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, US dollar, per capita 307.17 units per person (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, annual growth rate 2.74 % change on previous year (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0062 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- SDRs holdings, SDR, per capita 224.29 units per person (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, annual growth rate 4.58 % change on previous year (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0047 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- IMF holdings of currency, US dollar, per capita 168.75 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is beer consumption per person in South Korea?
- Beer consumption per person in South Korea was 1.67 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest beer consumption per person recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 2.48 in 1995.
- What is the lowest beer consumption per person recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.02 in 1962.
- How does South Korea rank for beer consumption per person?
- South Korea ranks 95th out of 187 countries with data for 2022.
- Is beer consumption per person rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Beer consumption per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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