Alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption in South Africa
South Africa: Alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption was 3.99 in 2016. ▼ Falling
Alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption in South Africa, 2000–2016
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
The most recent figure for alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption in South Africa is 3.99, measured in 2016.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and up 0.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption in South Africa peaked at 5.05 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 3.94, in 2015.
That places South Africa 30th out of 189 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 17 years of available data.
Alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.05 | — |
| 2001 | 4.89 | -3.2% |
| 2002 | 4.74 | -3.1% |
| 2003 | 4.8 | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 4.6 | -4.2% |
| 2005 | 4.05 | -12.0% |
| 2006 | 3.98 | -1.7% |
| 2007 | 4.14 | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 4.16 | +0.5% |
| 2009 | 3.95 | -5.0% |
| 2010 | 4.19 | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 4.21 | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 4.15 | -1.4% |
| 2013 | 4.07 | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 4 | -1.7% |
| 2015 | 3.94 | -1.5% |
| 2016 | 3.99 | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 4.44 | 3.95 | 5.05 | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.08 | 3.94 | 4.21 | 7 |
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, recorded per capita (15+) consumption in South Africa?
- Alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption in South Africa was 3.99 in 2016, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 5.05 in 2000.
- What is the lowest alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.94 in 2015.
- How does South Africa rank for alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption?
- South Africa ranks 30th out of 189 countries with data for 2016.
- Is alcohol, recorded per capita (15+) consumption rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.3%. 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, recorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure alcohol). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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