Spirits consumption per person in Australia
Australia: Spirits consumption per person was 1.72 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year in 2022. ▬ Flat
Latest (2022)
1.72 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
65th
of 187 countries
All-time high
1.9 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year
in 2001
All-time low
1.12 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year
in 1991
Years of data
62
1961–2022
Spirits consumption per person in Australia, 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, spirits consumption per person in Australia stood at 1.72 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and up 32.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, spirits consumption per person in Australia peaked at 1.9 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year in 2001 and was at its lowest, 1.12 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year, in 1991.
Australia ranks 65th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Spirits consumption per person in Australia, year by year
| Year | Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1.19 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | — |
| 1962 | 1.16 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -2.5% |
| 1963 | 1.26 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +8.6% |
| 1964 | 1.36 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +7.9% |
| 1965 | 1.19 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -12.5% |
| 1966 | 1.19 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 1.32 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +10.9% |
| 1968 | 1.3 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -1.5% |
| 1969 | 1.45 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +11.5% |
| 1970 | 1.49 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +2.8% |
| 1971 | 1.54 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +3.4% |
| 1972 | 1.74 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +13.0% |
| 1973 | 1.76 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +1.1% |
| 1974 | 1.68 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -4.5% |
| 1975 | 1.61 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -4.2% |
| 1976 | 1.76 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +9.3% |
| 1977 | 1.83 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +4.0% |
| 1978 | 1.47 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -19.7% |
| 1979 | 1.38 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -6.1% |
| 1980 | 1.5 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +8.7% |
| 1981 | 1.58 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +5.3% |
| 1982 | 1.59 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +0.6% |
| 1983 | 1.51 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -5.0% |
| 1984 | 1.61 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +6.6% |
| 1985 | 1.7 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +5.6% |
| 1986 | 1.57 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -7.6% |
| 1987 | 1.65 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +5.1% |
| 1988 | 1.7 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +3.0% |
| 1989 | 1.68 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -1.2% |
| 1990 | 1.18 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -29.8% |
| 1991 | 1.12 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -5.1% |
| 1992 | 1.17 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +4.5% |
| 1993 | 1.48 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +26.5% |
| 1994 | 1.73 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +16.9% |
| 1995 | 1.63 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -5.8% |
| 1996 | 1.7 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +4.3% |
| 1997 | 1.81 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +6.5% |
| 1998 | 1.77 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 1.88 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +6.2% |
| 2000 | 1.84 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -2.1% |
| 2001 | 1.9 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +3.3% |
| 2002 | 1.25 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -34.2% |
| 2003 | 1.23 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -1.6% |
| 2004 | 1.23 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 1.18 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -4.1% |
| 2006 | 1.18 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 1.2 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +1.7% |
| 2008 | 1.34 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +11.7% |
| 2009 | 1.31 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -2.2% |
| 2010 | 1.35 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +3.1% |
| 2011 | 1.27 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -5.9% |
| 2012 | 1.3 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 1.24 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -4.6% |
| 2014 | 1.23 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 1.25 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 1.24 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 1.34 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +8.1% |
| 2018 | 1.4 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +4.5% |
| 2019 | 1.54 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +10.0% |
| 2020 | 1.77 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +14.9% |
| 2021 | 1.78 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 1.72 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | -3.4% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 1.72 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year is below the median for high income countries, which is 1.79 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year, 96% of the median. (59 countries reporting)
- Australia's 1.72 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.45 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year, 3.8× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.27 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.16 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.45 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.63 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.38 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.83 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.61 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.5 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.7 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.55 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.12 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.88 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.37 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.18 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.9 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.32 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.23 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.54 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.76 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.72 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 1.78 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year | 3 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 62 Denmark 1.8 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year compare
- 63 Armenia 1.79 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year compare
- 64 Chile 1.79 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year compare
- 66 Austria 1.64 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year compare
- 67 Croatia 1.61 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year compare
- 68 New Zealand 1.59 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year compare
More economy & growth data for Australia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.36 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.26 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.55 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0025 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -164.69 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 36.52 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -32.02 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0203 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,323 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 20.24 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is spirits consumption per person in Australia?
- Spirits consumption per person in Australia was 1.72 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 spirits consumption per person recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.9 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year in 2001.
- What is the lowest spirits consumption per person recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.12 Litres of pure alcohol per person per year in 1991.
- How does Australia rank for spirits consumption per person?
- Australia ranks 65th out of 187 countries with data for 2022.
- Is spirits consumption per person rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 32.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Australia 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 Spirits consumption per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Spirit consumption per person, measured in liters of pure alcohol per year. Spirits are distilled alcoholic drinks and include gin, rum, whisky, tequila and vodka.