Alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres) … beverage in South Korea
South Korea: Alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres) … beverage was 1.62 in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure) in South Korea, 1961–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure) in South Korea stood at 1.62.
The figure is down 3.7% on the previous year and down 20.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure) in South Korea peaked at 2.48 in 1995 and was at its lowest, 0.02, in 1962.
South Korea ranks 92nd of 188 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres) … beverage in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.04 | — |
| 1962 | 0.02 | -50.0% |
| 1963 | 0.04 | +100.0% |
| 1964 | 0.07 | +75.0% |
| 1965 | 0.12 | +71.4% |
| 1966 | 0.11 | -8.3% |
| 1967 | 0.15 | +36.4% |
| 1968 | 0.12 | -20.0% |
| 1969 | 0.15 | +25.0% |
| 1970 | 0.22 | +46.7% |
| 1971 | 0.27 | +22.7% |
| 1972 | 0.21 | -22.2% |
| 1973 | 0.28 | +33.3% |
| 1974 | 0.34 | +21.4% |
| 1975 | 0.36 | +5.9% |
| 1976 | 0.38 | +5.6% |
| 1977 | 0.47 | +23.7% |
| 1978 | 0.84 | +78.7% |
| 1979 | 1.18 | +40.5% |
| 1980 | 1.04 | -11.9% |
| 1981 | 1.04 | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 1.06 | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 1.17 | +10.4% |
| 1984 | 1.22 | +4.3% |
| 1985 | 1.24 | +1.6% |
| 1986 | 1.23 | -0.8% |
| 1987 | 1.32 | +7.3% |
| 1988 | 1.51 | +14.4% |
| 1989 | 1.74 | +15.2% |
| 1990 | 2.02 | +16.1% |
| 1991 | 2.41 | +19.3% |
| 1992 | 2.33 | -3.3% |
| 1993 | 2.23 | -4.3% |
| 1994 | 2.47 | +10.8% |
| 1995 | 2.48 | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 2.15 | -13.3% |
| 1997 | 2.04 | -5.1% |
| 1998 | 1.73 | -15.2% |
| 1999 | 1.75 | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 2.19 | +25.4% |
| 2001 | 2.33 | +6.4% |
| 2002 | 2.37 | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 2.28 | -3.8% |
| 2004 | 2.25 | -1.4% |
| 2005 | 1.89 | -16.1% |
| 2006 | 2.22 | +17.4% |
| 2007 | 2.34 | +5.4% |
| 2008 | 2.43 | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 2.37 | -2.5% |
| 2010 | 1.89 | -20.3% |
| 2011 | 1.93 | +2.1% |
| 2012 | 1.98 | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 2.1 | +6.1% |
| 2014 | 2.02 | -3.8% |
| 2015 | 2.03 | +0.2% |
| 2016 | 2 | -1.5% |
| 2017 | 1.94 | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 1.9 | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 1.84 | -3.2% |
| 2020 | 1.63 | -11.6% |
| 2021 | 1.58 | -2.9% |
| 2022 | 1.67 | +5.7% |
| 2023 | 1.68 | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 1.62 | -3.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1.62 is below the median for high income countries, which is 3.18, 51% of the median. (60 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 1.62 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.8046, 2.0× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres) … beverage in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | +100.0% | 0.02 | 0.04 |
| 1978 | +78.7% | 0.47 | 0.84 |
| 1964 | +75.0% | 0.04 | 0.07 |
| 1965 | +71.4% | 0.07 | 0.12 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.0911 | 0.02 | 0.15 | 9 |
| 1970s | 0.455 | 0.21 | 1.18 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.26 | 1.04 | 1.74 | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.16 | 1.73 | 2.48 | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.27 | 1.89 | 2.43 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.96 | 1.84 | 2.1 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.63 | 1.58 | 1.68 | 5 |
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, recorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure) in South Korea?
- Alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure) in South Korea was 1.62 in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure) recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 2.48 in 1995.
- What is the lowest alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure) recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.02 in 1962.
- How does South Korea rank for alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure)?
- South Korea ranks 92nd out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure) rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory, published as part of Alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure alcohol), by beverage type. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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