Ever wondered which nation would win a global drink-off? Grab a cold one (or a glass of red, we don’t judge) — we dug into the World Health Organization’s alcohol consumption data to find out exactly who’s topping up their glasses the most, and where South Africa fits into the picture.
The Top 10 Countries That Drink the Most Alcohol
Using WHO Global Information System on Alcohol and Health (GISAH) data — which tracks both recorded sales (think beer, wine, spirits bought legally) and “unrecorded” consumption like home brews and moonshine — here’s the current per capita leaderboard, measured in litres of pure alcohol consumed per person aged 15+ per year:
- Moldova — 17.4 litres
- Belarus — 17.1 litres
- Lithuania — 16.2 litres
- Russia — 14.5 litres
- Czech Republic — 14.1 litres
- Romania — 12.9 litres
- Serbia — 12.9 litres
- Australia — 12.6 litres
- Portugal — 12.5 litres
- Slovakia — 12.5 litres
Notice a pattern? Most of the top spots belong to colder, Eastern European countries — long winters and strong spirit-drinking traditions (hello, vodka and rakija) tend to push consumption numbers up. Wine-loving Western Europe and beer-mad Central Europe aren’t far behind either, with Czechia and its famously cheap, famously good pilsner practically a national institution.
Where Does South Africa Rank?
Here’s the twist: South Africa doesn’t crack the global top 20 for overall per capita consumption — a huge chunk of the population abstains entirely, which drags the national average down. But look only at South Africans who actually drink, and the story changes fast. WHO figures have placed South African drinkers among the heaviest-consuming groups on the planet, trailing only a handful of countries like Namibia, Eswatini and the Cook Islands, with South African drinkers putting away close to 29 litres of pure alcohol a year on average.
And it’s a beer-first nation through and through — beer makes up more than half of everything South Africans drink, with wine and spirits splitting the rest. Which, if you’ve ever seen a braai run dry of Castles and Black Labels before the chops are even on the grill, will come as absolutely zero surprise.
Who Drinks the Least?
On the flip side of the map, the lowest consumption figures cluster in countries where religion or law restricts alcohol sales. Libya sits at effectively zero litres per capita, with Kuwait, Mauritania and Pakistan not far above it. Egypt and Niger also rank among the lowest globally.
Why the Rankings Matter (And Why They’re a Bit Messy)
Worth flagging: alcohol stats are notoriously tricky. Countries with big tourism industries (looking at you, small island nations) can show inflated numbers because tourist drinking gets counted alongside local consumption. Meanwhile, countries with large informal or home-brewing markets — South Africa included — likely under-report actual intake, since moonshine and umqombothi rarely show up in official sales data. So take any single ranking with a pinch of salt (or a wedge of lime).
The Bottom Line
Global rankings aside, South Africans know how to enjoy a drink — responsibly, of course. Whether it’s a Windhoek Lager at the braai, a Cape wine estate pour, or a dram picked up at your nearest Checkers Liquorshop or Norman Goodfellows, the culture of drinking well (not just drinking a lot) is what really sets local habits apart.
FAQs
Which country drinks the most alcohol per capita? Moldova currently tops WHO’s global rankings at around 17.4 litres of pure alcohol per person per year, narrowly ahead of Belarus and Lithuania.
Where does South Africa rank for alcohol consumption? South Africa doesn’t rank in the global top 20 overall, largely due to high abstinence rates, but South African drinkers specifically rank among the heaviest-consuming groups in the world.
Which countries drink the least alcohol? Libya, Kuwait, Mauritania and Pakistan report the lowest per capita alcohol consumption globally, largely due to religious and legal restrictions on alcohol sales.