Beer consumption per person in South Africa
South Africa: Beer consumption per person was 3.65 in 2022. ▲ Rising
Latest (2022)
3.65
Change on year
up 11.3%
World rank
33rd
of 186 countries
All-time high
5.07
in 1996
All-time low
0.37
in 1961
Years of data
62
1961–2022
Beer consumption per person in South Africa, 1961–2022
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 3.65 for beer consumption per person in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 11.3% on the previous year and down 8.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, beer consumption per person in South Africa peaked at 5.07 in 1996 and was at its lowest, 0.37, in 1961.
That places South Africa 33rd out of 186 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 62 years of available data.
Beer consumption per person in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.37 | — |
| 1962 | 0.41 | +10.8% |
| 1963 | 0.81 | +97.6% |
| 1964 | 0.67 | -17.3% |
| 1965 | 0.8 | +19.4% |
| 1966 | 0.8 | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 0.71 | -11.3% |
| 1968 | 0.77 | +8.5% |
| 1969 | 0.95 | +23.4% |
| 1970 | 1.06 | +11.6% |
| 1971 | 1.05 | -0.9% |
| 1972 | 1.13 | +7.6% |
| 1973 | 1.33 | +17.7% |
| 1974 | 1.55 | +16.5% |
| 1975 | 1.69 | +9.0% |
| 1976 | 1.66 | -1.8% |
| 1977 | 1.6 | -3.6% |
| 1978 | 1.65 | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 1.89 | +14.5% |
| 1980 | 2.37 | +25.4% |
| 1981 | 2.75 | +16.0% |
| 1982 | 3 | +9.1% |
| 1983 | 3.05 | +1.7% |
| 1984 | 3.23 | +5.9% |
| 1985 | 3.15 | -2.5% |
| 1986 | 3.39 | +7.6% |
| 1987 | 3.75 | +10.6% |
| 1988 | 4.1 | +9.3% |
| 1989 | 4.18 | +2.0% |
| 1990 | 4.2 | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 4.19 | -0.2% |
| 1992 | 4.48 | +6.9% |
| 1993 | 4.32 | -3.6% |
| 1994 | 4.47 | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 4.33 | -3.1% |
| 1996 | 5.07 | +17.1% |
| 1997 | 4.92 | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 4.83 | -1.8% |
| 1999 | 5.02 | +3.9% |
| 2000 | 4.01 | -20.1% |
| 2001 | 3.83 | -4.5% |
| 2002 | 3.7 | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 3.71 | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 3.84 | +3.5% |
| 2005 | 3.85 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 3.83 | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 3.89 | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 3.8 | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 3.71 | -2.4% |
| 2010 | 3.71 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 3.92 | +5.7% |
| 2012 | 3.97 | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 3.97 | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 3.92 | -1.3% |
| 2015 | 3.89 | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 3.71 | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 3.71 | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 3.87 | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 3.87 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 2.85 | -26.4% |
| 2021 | 3.28 | +15.1% |
| 2022 | 3.65 | +11.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.6989 | 0.37 | 0.95 | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.46 | 1.05 | 1.89 | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.3 | 2.37 | 4.18 | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.58 | 4.19 | 5.07 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.82 | 3.7 | 4.01 | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.85 | 3.71 | 3.97 | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.26 | 2.85 | 3.65 | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- Gross domestic savings (current US$), annual growth rate 0.5972 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1528 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current US$), per capita 1,008 current US$ per person (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current LCU), annual growth rate -1.82 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current LCU), per unit of GDP 2.73 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Gross domestic savings (current LCU), per capita 18,029 current LCU per person (2025)
- GNI, Atlas method (current US$), annual growth rate 3.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- GNI, Atlas method (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.9509 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is beer consumption per person in South Africa?
- Beer consumption per person in South Africa was 3.65 in 2022, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest beer consumption per person recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.07 in 1996.
- What is the lowest beer consumption per person recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.37 in 1961.
- How does South Africa rank for beer consumption per person?
- South Africa ranks 33rd out of 186 countries with data for 2022.
- Is beer consumption per person rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa 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.
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