Top 15 Countries With The Highest Alcohol Consumption
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List Of Countries That Drink The Most Alcohol
According to data collected by the World Health Organization, an estimated 2.3 billion people currently drink alcohol. While alcohol consumption is clearly a worldwide trend, there are some countries that have higher-than-average alcohol consumption rates. Some of the countries on this list include Ireland, Germany, and Poland, but the country with the highest rate of alcohol consumption has been dubbed the “Drunkest Country on Earth.”
Globally, the average rate of consumption of alcohol per person is 5.5 liters a year. In the data listed below, it’s important to note that the average alcohol consumption per-capita is listed in terms of pure alcohol consumption. This means that if the average per-capita consumption is 10 liters, the average person consumed that amount in pure alcohol alone, not the total volume of alcoholic drinks.
#15: Moldova
Moldova, an eastern European country officially known as the Republic of Moldova, is well-known for its rocky hills and vineyards. Its wine regions include Nistreana, known for reds, and Codru, are home to some of the world’s largest wine cellars.
Moldova’s wine industry employs 1 out of every 10 Moldovans and makes up nearly 15% of the country’s annual budget. While wine may be a central part of Moldova’s economy and culture, it’s also responsible for higher-than-average alcohol consumption. Per citizen, Moldovans drink an average of 11.36 liters of alcohol per year.
#14: Laos
Located in southeast Asia between Vietnam and Thailand, Laos is a country with many ethnic groups, traditions, and cultures, many of which have strong relationships with alcohol. Of the 10 ASEAN countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam), Laos ranks number 1 for alcohol consumption. In 2019, Laotians drank an average of 11.52 liters of alcohol per year.
#13: Luxembourg
Known worldwide for its strong banks and economy, Luxembourg, one of Europe’s smallest countries, boasts the highest gross domestic product of any Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) country. While the citizens of Luxembourg may be some of the wealthiest in the world, as the saying goes, money can’t buy you everything.
Sadly, Luxembourgers struggle with higher rates of alcoholism than their neighboring countries; with an average per-capita consumption of 11.52 liters.
#12: Poland
Poland has a rich history with alcohol, specifically vodka. This history has become so ingrained in Polish culture that there is much debate between Poles and Russians as to who invented the popular spirit. With Poland accounting for over a third of all vodka sales in the EU, alcohol has become a major part of Polish society.
As of 2021, the average per-capita alcohol consumption by Poles was 11.63 liters. Additionally, from a report by the OECD, 35% of adults in Poland engage in binge drinking at least once a month. This corresponds to drinking more than 80% of a bottle of wine or 1.5 liters of beer per occasion.
#11: Ireland
Home to one of the world’s most-consumed beers, Guinness, Ireland is a country with a rich, celebrated history with alcohol. The Irish tend to spend their time in pubs rather than cafes or restaurants, and as a country, they produce some of the world’s most sought-after whiskeys. However, with such a close relationship to alcohol comes a large population of heavy drinkers.
In 2019, on average, every person in Ireland aged 15 and over drank 11.7 liters of alcohol a year. According to data collected in 2021, 70% of Irish men and 34% of Irish women aged 15 and older are considered to be “hazardous drinkers.”
#10: Lithuania
Located in the Baltic region of Europe, Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is home to roughly 2.8 million people. Famous for its ancient history, interesting pagan roots and archaic language, Lithuania is a country with rich history, culture, and diversity.
Lithuania is also home to an increasingly growing number of adults with alcohol use disorders. As of 2021, adults 15 and older in Lithuania reported drinking an average of 11.79 liters of alcohol per year. The drink of choice for Lithuanians is beer, which accounts for nearly 45% of all alcohol consumed. In recent years, the Lithuanian government has taken steps to curb the rise of alcoholism. Along with other measures, in 2014, the government made it illegal to consume alcohol in public places.
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#9: Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a Balkan nation and cultural melting pot home to over 6.5 million people. With cultural influences from the Greeks, Slavs, Ottomans, and Persians, Bulgaria is home to a diverse population with rich heritages and traditions.
Bulgarians also have a close relationship with alcohol, with nearly a third of the country engaging in binge drinking at least once a month, according to the OECD. Bulgarian men, specifically, consume nearly 20.2 liters of alcohol per year, raising the national average to 11.92 liters.
#8: Austria
Austria is a landlocked country located in Central Europe. It comprises nine federal states, with the capital state being Vienna, the most populous. With cultural influences from neighboring countries like Hungary, Germany, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic, Austria has not only developed unique and rich traditions, but also a close relationship with alcohol.
Beer and wine are among the most popular drinks for Austrians. According to the OECD, 33% of adults engage in binge drinking at least once a month. Additionally, Austrians average 11.97 liters of pure alcohol a year.
#7: Seychelles
Seychelles is the smallest and least-populous country in Africa. Made up of 115 islands off the East Coast of Africa, Seychelles is home to numerous beaches, coral reefs and nature reserves, and a diverse culture.
Part of that diverse culture is an important societal relationship with alcohol. The people of Seychelles have not only fostered a cultural relationship with alcohol, but also an economic relationship. Alcohol plays a significant role in the country’s economy, accounting for nearly 11.5% of the country’s gross domestic product. On average, Seychellois drink 11.99 liters of pure alcohol a year.
#6: Uganda
With an average yearly per-capita alcohol consumption of 12.21 liters, Uganda lands at the top of the list for African countries with the highest alcohol consumption. Excessive alcohol consumption has emerged as a key contributor to poverty in Uganda, resulting in decreased productivity, increased spending, asset depletion, impaired decision-making, and susceptibility to disease. Consequently, it perpetuates and sustains chronic poverty in the region.
On average, Ugandan males drink an average of 19.93 liters a year, compared to the 4.88 liters drank annually by women.
#5: Germany
Landing at number five for countries with the highest drinking rates is a country that is synonymous with beer: Germany. Beer has been an important part of German history and culture that dates back centuries. Beer is so ingrained in German culture that the country exported $1.38 billion of the alcoholic beverage in 2021, landing it at number one among beer exporters in the world.
Germans, on average, drink 12.2 liters of pure alcohol every year. According to OECD data, 34% of Germans report binge drinking at least once a month. Additionally, 25% of 15-year-olds in Germany reported having been drunk at least twice in their life.
#4: Latvia
Jumping by nearly an entire liter in average alcohol consumption is a neighboring country to Lithuania: Latvia. Latvia, another Baltic region country, is widely known for its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, unique cuisine, medieval towns, and its beer.
In the last 10 years, Latvia has seen an alarming spike in alcohol consumption, from 9.8 liters in 2010 to 13.09 liters per capita in 2021. According to OECD data, nearly 45% of Latvians report binge drinking at least once a month.
#3: Czech Republic
The people of the Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, is known for its stunning castles, unique culture, and perhaps more famously, its beer. Beer is by far the most popular drink among Czechs, which is fitting seeing as how the country is credited with the creation of the popular beer type known as a pilsner.
However, their love for beer has landed the Czech Republic at number 3 for countries with the highest alcohol consumption. Czechs, on average, drink 13.29 liters of pure alcohol each year. Additionally, Czechs rank number 1 for per-capita spending on alcohol, with a record high sum spent on alcohol in 2019 (around $4 billion) according to the European statistical office, Eurostat.
#2: Georgia
Georgia is a former Soviet republic that lies at the intersection of Europe and Asia. Home to nearly 3.8 million people, Georgia is renowned for its rich history of art, music, and literature, and perhaps more famously: its wine. Georgia recently became the Guinness World Record holder for the oldest wine-making country in the world.
With such a long history with wine-making and alcohol, Georgians have an alarmingly high rate of alcohol consumption. On average, Gerogians drink 14.33 liters of pure alcohol each year.
#1: Romania
Coming in at number 1 on the list of countries with the highest alcohol consumption is Romania. Located in southeastern Europe, this nation is widely known for the forested region of Transylvania, which has long been associated with the Dracula legend. However, with its bustling population of 19.12 million, Romania has also more recently become known as the “Drunkest Country on Earth.”
Men in Romania are, by and large, the heaviest drinkers on the planet. The average Romanian male drinks 27.3 liters, or 8.2 standard drinks, per year. It’s not just the men in Romania that boast such high numbers. As a country, Romanians drink an average of 16.99 liters per year, nearly 3 liters more than Georgians.
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Solving The Global Issue Of Alcoholism
While the above-mentioned 15 countries rank highest for alcohol consumption, alcohol consumption has increased dramatically in many countries around the world. Furthermore, these numbers serve only as averages, and don’t represent the true scope of the disease of alcoholism.
For example, while the average alcohol consumption per capita in the United States is 9.5 liters, or 2.51 gallons, per year, roughly 10.5% of people 12 and older have an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Compared to a country like Ireland, which is not only ranked 11th in alcohol consumption, but also widely known for its alcohol culture, only 8.5% of the population is estimated to have an AUD.
It’s clear that alcohol abuse is a worldwide problem. No matter where someone may reside, they are no less susceptible for an AUD. If you or someone you know is struggling with an alcohol addiction, the time to get help is now. To learn more about what treatment options are available to you, contact a treatment provider today to get started.
