Alcohol consumption per person in Australia
Australia: Alcohol consumption per person was 10.29 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
10.29 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
24th
of 185 countries
All-time high
11.28 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age
in 2008
All-time low
10.09 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age
in 2018
Years of data
21
2000–2020
Alcohol consumption per person in Australia, 2000–2020
Source: Global Health Observatory Data Repository - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age.
Analysis
In 2020, alcohol consumption per person in Australia stood at 10.29 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.0% on the previous year and down 7.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, alcohol consumption per person in Australia peaked at 11.28 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age in 2008 and was at its lowest, 10.09 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age, in 2018.
Australia ranks 24th of 185 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Alcohol consumption per person in Australia, year by year
| Year | liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 10.55 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | — |
| 2001 | 10.55 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 10.48 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 10.57 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 10.72 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 10.82 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 11.05 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 11.19 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 11.28 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 11.26 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 11.1 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 10.9 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 10.72 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 10.58 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 10.46 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 10.39 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 10.25 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 10.19 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 10.09 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 10.09 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 10.29 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | +2.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.85 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | 10.48 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | 11.28 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | 10 |
| 2010s | 10.48 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | 10.09 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | 11.1 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.29 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | 10.29 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | 10.29 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | 1 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 21 Russian Federation 10.53 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age compare
- 22 Slovenia 10.41 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age compare
- 23 France 10.32 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age compare
- 25 Seychelles 10.19 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age compare
- 26 Switzerland 10.07 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age compare
- 27 New Zealand 10.02 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age 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)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), annual growth rate 2.97 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2266 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current US$), per capita 14,756 current US$ per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), annual growth rate 4.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per unit of GDP 0.3501 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (current LCU), per capita 22,800 current LCU per person (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), annual growth rate 3.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Imports of goods and services (constant 2015 US$), per unit of GDP 0.2211 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is alcohol consumption per person in Australia?
- Alcohol consumption per person in Australia was 10.29 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age in 2020, according to Global Health Observatory Data Repository - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest alcohol consumption per person recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 11.28 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age in 2008.
- What is the lowest alcohol consumption per person recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.09 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age in 2018.
- How does Australia rank for alcohol consumption per person?
- Australia ranks 24th out of 185 countries with data for 2020.
- Is alcohol consumption per person rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Observatory Data Repository - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Alcohol consumption per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Estimated consumption of alcohol is measured in liters of pure alcohol per person aged 15 or older, per year.