Alcohol consumption per person in South Africa
South Africa: Alcohol consumption per person was 7.13 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
7.13 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age
Change on year
down 18.7%
World rank
57th
of 185 countries
All-time high
8.96 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age
in 2000
All-time low
7.13 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age
in 2020
Years of data
21
2000–2020
Alcohol consumption per person in South Africa, 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 South Africa stood at 7.13 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
The figure is down 18.7% on the previous year and down 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, alcohol consumption per person in South Africa peaked at 8.96 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age in 2000 and was at its lowest, 7.13 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age, in 2020.
That places South Africa 57th out of 185 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Alcohol consumption per person in South Africa, year by year
| Year | liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 8.96 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | — |
| 2001 | 8.96 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 8.79 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 8.72 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 8.7 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 8.75 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 8.81 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 8.83 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 8.78 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 8.67 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 8.68 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 8.79 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 8.9 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 8.92 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 8.93 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 8.88 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 8.8 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 8.72 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 8.77 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 8.77 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 7.13 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | -18.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.8 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | 8.67 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | 8.96 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.82 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | 8.68 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | 8.93 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.13 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | 7.13 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | 7.13 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 54 Norway 7.38 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age compare
- 55 Grenada 7.33 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age compare
- 56 Botswana 7.27 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age compare
- 58 Malta 7.11 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age compare
- 59 Italy 6.97 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age compare
- 60 Mauritius 6.86 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age compare
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)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 6.35 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1367 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), per capita 901.96 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$) 4.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 0.1889 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current US$), per 1,246 current US$ per person (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 2.32 % change on previous year (2025)
- General government final consumption expenditure (current LCU), per 3.38 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is alcohol consumption per person in South Africa?
- Alcohol consumption per person in South Africa was 7.13 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 8.96 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age in 2000.
- What is the lowest alcohol consumption per person recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.13 liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for alcohol consumption per person?
- South Africa ranks 57th out of 185 countries with data for 2020.
- Is alcohol consumption per person rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa 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.