Alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+) past 30 days (%) in South Africa
South Africa: Alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+) past 30 days (%) was 12.0% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+) past 30 days (%) in South Africa, 2000–2020
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+) past 30 days (%) in South Africa is 12.0%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of down 10.8% on the previous year and down 9.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+) past 30 days (%) in South Africa peaked at 13.5% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 12.0%, in 2020.
South Africa ranks 126th of 186 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+) past 30 days (%) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 13.5% | — |
| 2001 | 13.4% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 13.2% | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 13.1% | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 13.2% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 13.2% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 13.3% | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 13.5% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 13.4% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 13.2% | -1.5% |
| 2010 | 13.2% | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 13.4% | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 13.5% | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 13.5% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 13.4% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 13.5% | +0.3% |
| 2016 | 13.3% | -1.0% |
| 2017 | 13.3% | -0.7% |
| 2018 | 13.3% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 13.5% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 12.0% | -10.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13.3% | 13.1% | 13.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.4% | 13.2% | 13.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.0% | 12.0% | 12.0% | 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, heavy episodic drinking (15+) past 30 days (%) in South Africa?
- Alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+) past 30 days (%) in South Africa was 12.0% in 2020, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+) past 30 days (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 13.5% in 2015.
- What is the lowest alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+) past 30 days (%) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.0% in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+) past 30 days (%)?
- South Africa ranks 126th out of 186 countries with data for 2020.
- Is alcohol, heavy episodic drinking (15+) past 30 days (%) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- 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+) past 30 days (%), age-standardized. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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