Alcohol, former drinkers (%), age-standardized in South Africa
South Africa: Alcohol, former drinkers (%), age-standardized was 12.5% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Alcohol, former drinkers (%), age-standardized in South Africa, 2000–2020
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2020, alcohol, former drinkers (%), age-standardized in South Africa stood at 12.5%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.4% on the previous year and up 1.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, alcohol, former drinkers (%), age-standardized in South Africa peaked at 12.9% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 11.9%, in 2003.
That places South Africa 88th out of 186 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Alcohol, former drinkers (%), age-standardized in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 11.9% | — |
| 2001 | 11.9% | -0.0% |
| 2002 | 11.9% | -0.0% |
| 2003 | 11.9% | -0.0% |
| 2004 | 12.0% | +0.7% |
| 2005 | 12.0% | +0.7% |
| 2006 | 12.1% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 12.3% | +1.1% |
| 2008 | 12.3% | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 12.3% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 12.3% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 12.5% | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 12.5% | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 12.6% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 12.6% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 12.6% | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 12.7% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 12.7% | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 12.8% | +0.7% |
| 2019 | 12.9% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 12.5% | -3.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 12.0% | 11.9% | 12.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.6% | 12.3% | 12.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.5% | 12.5% | 12.5% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 85 Equatorial Guinea 13.0% compare
- 86 Kyrgyzstan 12.8% compare
- 87 Botswana 12.6% compare
- 89 Uganda 12.4% compare
- 90 Zambia 12.2% compare
- 91 Timor-Leste 12.1% compare
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 fh 2 (2025)
- Democracy lexical 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, former drinkers (%), age-standardized in South Africa?
- Alcohol, former drinkers (%), age-standardized in South Africa was 12.5% in 2020, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest alcohol, former drinkers (%), age-standardized recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 12.9% in 2019.
- What is the lowest alcohol, former drinkers (%), age-standardized recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.9% in 2003.
- How does South Africa rank for alcohol, former drinkers (%), age-standardized?
- South Africa ranks 88th out of 186 countries with data for 2020.
- Is alcohol, former drinkers (%), age-standardized rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Alcohol, former drinkers (%), age-standardized. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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