Alcohol, abstainers past 12 months (%), age-standardized in South Korea
South Korea: Alcohol, abstainers past 12 months (%), age-standardized was 27.5% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Alcohol, abstainers past 12 months (%), age-standardized in South Korea, 2000–2020
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for alcohol, abstainers past 12 months (%), age-standardized in South Korea is 27.5%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, alcohol, abstainers past 12 months (%), age-standardized in South Korea peaked at 27.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 24.2%, in 2001.
South Korea ranks 158th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Alcohol, abstainers past 12 months (%), age-standardized in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 25.2% | — |
| 2001 | 24.2% | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 25.6% | +5.7% |
| 2003 | 25.5% | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 25.8% | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 25.9% | +0.5% |
| 2006 | 26.1% | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 25.9% | -0.9% |
| 2008 | 25.7% | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 26.2% | +1.9% |
| 2010 | 26.3% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 26.3% | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 26.2% | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 26.4% | +0.7% |
| 2014 | 27.1% | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 26.7% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 27.0% | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 27.0% | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 27.1% | +0.4% |
| 2019 | 27.3% | +0.8% |
| 2020 | 27.5% | +0.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 27.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 28.7%, 96% of the median. (60 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 27.5% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 63.0%, 44% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 25.6% | 24.2% | 26.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 26.7% | 26.2% | 27.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.5% | 27.5% | 27.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More social development data for South Korea
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 4,407 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 117 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 117 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0001 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is alcohol, abstainers past 12 months (%), age-standardized in South Korea?
- Alcohol, abstainers past 12 months (%), age-standardized in South Korea was 27.5% in 2020, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest alcohol, abstainers past 12 months (%), age-standardized recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 27.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest alcohol, abstainers past 12 months (%), age-standardized recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.2% in 2001.
- How does South Korea rank for alcohol, abstainers past 12 months (%), age-standardized?
- South Korea ranks 158th out of 186 countries with data for 2020.
- Is alcohol, abstainers past 12 months (%), age-standardized rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Alcohol, abstainers past 12 months (%), age-standardized. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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