Alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+), drinkers only, past 30 days in South Africa
South Africa: Alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+), drinkers only, past 30 days was 42.0% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+), drinkers only, past 30 days in South Africa, 2000–2020
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2020, alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+), drinkers only, past 30 days in South Africa stood at 42.0%. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
The figure is down 2.4% on the previous year and down 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+), drinkers only, past 30 days in South Africa peaked at 45.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 42.0%, in 2020.
That places South Africa 85th out of 186 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, heavy episodic drinking (15+), drinkers only, past 30 days in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 45.8% | — |
| 2001 | 45.7% | -0.3% |
| 2002 | 45.4% | -0.6% |
| 2003 | 45.3% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 45.2% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 45.1% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 45.0% | -0.2% |
| 2007 | 45.0% | -0.1% |
| 2008 | 44.8% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 44.6% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 44.5% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 44.5% | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 44.4% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 44.2% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 44.0% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 43.8% | -0.3% |
| 2016 | 43.5% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 43.3% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 43.1% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 43.0% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 42.0% | -2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 45.2% | 44.6% | 45.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 43.8% | 43.0% | 44.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 42.0% | 42.0% | 42.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 82 Bahamas 43.1% compare
- 83 United States of America 42.1% compare
- 84 Mozambique 42.1% compare
- 86 Philippines 41.9% compare
- 87 Nicaragua 41.6% compare
- 88 Argentina 41.6% 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 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, heavy episodic drinking (15+), drinkers only, past 30 days in South Africa?
- Alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+), drinkers only, past 30 days in South Africa was 42.0% in 2020, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+), drinkers only, past 30 days recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 45.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+), drinkers only, past 30 days recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 42.0% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+), drinkers only, past 30 days?
- South Africa ranks 85th out of 186 countries with data for 2020.
- Is alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+), drinkers only, past 30 days rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.6%. 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, heavy episodic drinking (15+), drinkers only, past 30 days (%), age-standardized. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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