Alcohol, drinkers only per capita (15+) consumption in litres of pure in South Africa
South Africa: Alcohol, drinkers only per capita (15+) consumption in litres of pure was 24.06 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Alcohol, drinkers only per capita (15+) consumption in litres of pure in South Africa, 2000–2020
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 24.06 for alcohol, drinkers only per capita (15+) consumption in litres of pure in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
The figure is down 11.6% on the previous year and down 13.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, alcohol, drinkers only per capita (15+) consumption in litres of pure in South Africa peaked at 29.74 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 24.06, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 8th of 182 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Alcohol, drinkers only per capita (15+) consumption in litres of pure in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 29.74 | — |
| 2001 | 29.74 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 29.38 | -1.2% |
| 2003 | 29.18 | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 29.04 | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 28.98 | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 28.89 | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 28.71 | -0.6% |
| 2008 | 28.43 | -1.0% |
| 2009 | 28.06 | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 27.94 | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 28.01 | +0.3% |
| 2012 | 28.07 | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 27.97 | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 27.83 | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 27.62 | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 27.38 | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 27.16 | -0.8% |
| 2018 | 27.2 | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 27.2 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 24.06 | -11.6% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 24.06 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 11.21, 2.1× the median. (54 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 24.06 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 11.3, 2.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 29.01 | 28.06 | 29.74 | 10 |
| 2010s | 27.64 | 27.16 | 28.07 | 10 |
| 2020s | 24.06 | 24.06 | 24.06 | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More social development data for South Africa
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 55,177 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 1,319 (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 1,319 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0009 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, drinkers only per capita (15+) consumption in litres of pure in South Africa?
- Alcohol, drinkers only per capita (15+) consumption in litres of pure in South Africa was 24.06 in 2020, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest alcohol, drinkers only per capita (15+) consumption in litres of pure recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 29.74 in 2000.
- What is the lowest alcohol, drinkers only per capita (15+) consumption in litres of pure recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.06 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for alcohol, drinkers only per capita (15+) consumption in litres of pure?
- South Africa ranks 8th out of 182 countries with data for 2020.
- Is alcohol, drinkers only per capita (15+) consumption in litres of pure rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Alcohol, drinkers only per capita (15+) consumption in litres of pure alcohol, three-year average. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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