Total alcohol consumption per capita (liters of pure alcohol) in South Africa
South Africa: Total alcohol consumption per capita (liters of pure alcohol) was 7.13 in 2020. ▼ Falling
Total alcohol consumption per capita (liters of pure alcohol) in South Africa, 2000–2020
Source: Global Health Observatory Data Repository, World Health Organization (WHO).
Analysis
In 2020, total alcohol consumption per capita (liters of pure alcohol) in South Africa stood at 7.13. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of down 18.7% on the previous year and down 17.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total alcohol consumption per capita (liters of pure alcohol) in South Africa peaked at 8.96 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 7.13, in 2020.
That places South Africa 57th out of 185 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.
Total alcohol consumption per capita (liters of pure alcohol) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 8.96 | — |
| 2001 | 8.96 | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 8.79 | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 8.72 | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 8.7 | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 8.75 | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 8.81 | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 8.83 | +0.2% |
| 2008 | 8.78 | -0.6% |
| 2009 | 8.67 | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 8.68 | +0.1% |
| 2011 | 8.79 | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 8.9 | +1.3% |
| 2013 | 8.92 | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 8.93 | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 8.88 | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 8.8 | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 8.72 | -0.9% |
| 2018 | 8.77 | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 8.77 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 7.13 | -18.7% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 7.13 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.58, 1.6× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 7.13 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.62, 2.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 8.8 | 8.67 | 8.96 | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.82 | 8.68 | 8.93 | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.13 | 7.13 | 7.13 | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is total alcohol consumption per capita (liters of pure alcohol) in South Africa?
- Total alcohol consumption per capita (liters of pure alcohol) in South Africa was 7.13 in 2020, according to Global Health Observatory Data Repository, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest total alcohol consumption per capita (liters of pure alcohol) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 8.96 in 2000.
- What is the lowest total alcohol consumption per capita (liters of pure alcohol) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.13 in 2020.
- How does South Africa rank for total alcohol consumption per capita (liters of pure alcohol)?
- South Africa ranks 57th out of 185 countries with data for 2020.
- Is total alcohol consumption per capita (liters of pure alcohol) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Observatory Data Repository, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Total alcohol consumption per capita (liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Total alcohol per capita consumption is defined as the total (sum of recorded and unrecorded alcohol) amount of alcohol consumed per person (15 years of age or older) over a calendar year, in litres of pure alcohol, adjusted for tourist consumption.