Total alcohol consumption per capitaIn liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age
- Data source
- Global Health Observatory Data Repository - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data
- Unit
- liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age
- Date range
- 2000-2020
- Last updated
- 2026-07-27
- Next expected update
- 2027-01-23
- Managed by
- Mojmír Vinkler and Pablo Arriagada
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Frequently asked questions
How did Our World in Data process this data?
How did Our World in Data process this data?
All data and visualizations on Our World in Data rely on data sourced from one or several original data providers. Preparing this original data involves several processing steps. Depending on the data, this can include standardizing country names and world region definitions, converting units, calculating derived indicators such as per capita measures, as well as adding or adapting metadata such as the name or the description given to an indicator.
At the link below you can find a detailed description of the structure of our data pipeline, including links to all the code used to prepare data across Our World in Data.
Documentation from data sources
Principal data source
Principal data source
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.
Aggregation method:
Weighted average
Statistical concept and methodology:
Methodology: The estimates for the total alcohol consumption are produced by summing up the 3-year average per capita (15+) recorded alcohol consumption and an estimate of per capita (15+) unrecorded alcohol consumption for a calendar year. Tourist consumption takes into account tourists visiting the country and inhabitants visiting other countries.
Development relevance:
According to the World Health Organization, alcohol consumption is a causal factor in more than 200 disease and injury conditions. In the world, an estimated 3 million deaths are from harmful use of alcohols every year. Drinking alcohol is associated with a risk of developing health problems such as mental and behavioural disorders, including alcohol dependence, major noncommunicable diseases such as liver cirrhosis, some cancers and cardiovascular diseases, as well as injuries resulting from violence and road clashes and collisions.
Other notes:
This is the Sustainable Development Goal indicator 3.5.2[https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/metadata/].
Data sources
Global Health Observatory Data Repository - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank – World Development Indicators
Global Health Observatory Data Repository - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank – World Development Indicators
The World Development Indicators (WDI) database, published by the World Bank, is a comprehensive collection of global development data, providing key economic, social, and environmental statistics. It includes over 1,500 indicators covering more than 200 countries and territories, with data spanning several decades. WDI serves as a vital resource for policymakers, researchers, businesses, and analysts seeking to understand global trends and make data-driven decisions. The database covers a wide range of topics, including economic growth, education, health, poverty, trade, energy, infrastructure, governance, and environmental sustainability. The indicators are sourced from reputable national and international agencies, ensuring high-quality, consistent, and comparable data. Users can access the database through interactive online tools, API services, and downloadable datasets, facilitating detailed analysis and visualization. WDI is also used for tracking progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other global development initiatives. By providing accessible and reliable statistics, it helps to inform policy discussions and strategies globally. Whether for academic research, policy planning, or economic analysis, the World Development Indicators database is an essential tool for understanding and addressing global development challenges.
Global Health Observatory Data Repository, World Health Organization (WHO), uri: https://www.who.int/data/gho. Indicator SH.ALC.PCAP.LI (https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.ALC.PCAP.LI). World Development Indicators – World Bank (2026). Accessed on 2026-07-27.How to cite
How to cite this page
How to cite this page
To cite this page overall, including any descriptions, FAQs or explanations of the data authored by Our World in Data, please use the following citation:
“Data Page: Total alcohol consumption per capita”. Our World in Data (2026). Data adapted from Global Health Observatory Data Repository - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank. Retrieved from https://archive.ourworldindata.org/20261102-112946/grapher/total-alcohol-consumption-per-capita-litres-of-pure-alcohol.html [online resource] (archived on November 2, 2026).How to cite this data
How to cite this data
If you have limited space (e.g. in data visualizations), you can use this abbreviated in-line citation:
Global Health Observatory Data Repository - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in DataFull citation
Global Health Observatory Data Repository - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. “Total alcohol consumption per capita – In liters of pure alcohol, projected estimates, 15+ years of age” [dataset]. Global Health Observatory Data Repository - World Health Organization (WHO), via World Bank, “World Development Indicators 129” [original data]. Retrieved November 2, 2026 from https://archive.ourworldindata.org/20261102-112946/grapher/total-alcohol-consumption-per-capita-litres-of-pure-alcohol.html (archived on November 2, 2026).All data produced by third-party providers and made available by Our World in Data are subject to the license terms from the original providers. Our work would not be possible without the data providers we rely on, so we ask you to always cite them appropriately. This is crucial to allow data providers to continue doing their work, enhancing, maintaining and updating valuable data.
All data, visualizations, and code produced by Our World in Data are completely open access under the Creative Commons BY license. You have the permission to use, distribute, and reproduce these in any medium, provided the source and authors are credited.
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