Alcohol, unrecorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure) in South Africa
South Africa: Alcohol, unrecorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure) was 1.28 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Alcohol, unrecorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure) in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
Analysis
In 2024, alcohol, unrecorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure) in South Africa stood at 1.28. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, alcohol, unrecorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure) in South Africa peaked at 1.39 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 1.28, in 2023.
South Africa ranks 20th of 188 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.
Alcohol, unrecorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.39 | — |
| 2001 | 1.39 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 1.39 | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 1.39 | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 1.38 | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 1.37 | -0.9% |
| 2006 | 1.35 | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 1.34 | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 1.34 | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 1.34 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 1.34 | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 1.33 | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 1.32 | -0.5% |
| 2013 | 1.32 | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 1.32 | -0.3% |
| 2015 | 1.32 | -0.1% |
| 2016 | 1.32 | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 1.31 | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 1.31 | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 1.32 | +0.4% |
| 2020 | 1.32 | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 1.31 | -0.8% |
| 2022 | 1.29 | -1.4% |
| 2023 | 1.28 | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 1.28 | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 1.37 | 1.34 | 1.39 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.32 | 1.31 | 1.34 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.29 | 1.28 | 1.32 | 5 |
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, unrecorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure) in South Africa?
- Alcohol, unrecorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure) in South Africa was 1.28 in 2024, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
- What is the highest alcohol, unrecorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 1.39 in 2002.
- What is the lowest alcohol, unrecorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.28 in 2023.
- How does South Africa rank for alcohol, unrecorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure)?
- South Africa ranks 20th out of 188 countries with data for 2024.
- Is alcohol, unrecorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.1%. 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, unrecorded per capita (15+) consumption (in litres of pure alcohol), three-year average. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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