Food & Beverage

15 Countries That Consume The Most Alcohol

Heaviest Drinking Countries

From country to country around the world, people’s relationship with alcohol varies greatly. In some places it serves as a point of national identity, and in others it has become detrimental to a country's overall health. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) released on the global status of alcohol, in order to help countries combat the harmful use of alcohol and avoid negative health and social consequences. Along with data on estimated cost of alcohol abuse, drinking ages and drunk-dr
Photo: Mitch Tobias | Getty Images

From country to country around the world, people’s relationship with alcohol varies greatly. In some places it serves as a point of national identity, and in others it has become detrimental to a country's overall health.

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a comprehensive reporton the global status of alcohol, in order to help countries combat the harmful use of alcohol and avoid negative health and social consequences.

Along with data on estimated cost of alcohol abuse, drinking ages and drunk-driving statistics, the report outlines overall alcohol consumption from the 193 WHO Member States. This data is presented by average annual per capita alcohol consumption (in liters of pure alcohol), drawing from both recorded sales figures and estimates of unrecorded usage, as well as further breaking it down by type of alcohol consumed.

As far as alcohol consumption goes, the United States is middle-of-the-pack, consuming only 9.44 liters of alcohol per person, per year, which is approximately half of the most heavily drinking countries. One major trend: males consume more than females. This fact may not surprise most people, but there is only one county where this trend is reversed: Ecuador.

In addition, the single heaviest drinking sub-group is males from Mali who describe themselves as drinkers. These individuals consume a whopping 62.10 liters of alcohol, on average, every year. However, this appears to be a small portion of the country’s population, as Mali's consumption average stands at 1.04 liters per person, per year.

So which countries consume the most alcohol per person? Click ahead to find out!

By Paul Toscano
Posted 9 Mar 2011

15. United Kingdom

Per capita alcohol consumption: 13.37 liters Recorded consumption: 11.67 liters Unrecorded consumption: 1.70 liters Beer: 4.93 liters Wine: 3.53 liters Spirits: 2.41 liters Other: 0.67 liters
Photo: Terry Williams | Photographer's Choice | Getty Images

Per capita alcohol consumption: 13.37 liters
Recorded consumption: 11.67 liters
Unrecorded consumption: 1.70 liters

Per capita consumption by type (recorded)
Beer: 4.93 liters
Wine: 3.53 liters
Spirits: 2.41 liters
Other: 0.67 liters

14. France

Per capita alcohol consumption: 13.66 liters Recorded consumption: 13.30 liters Unrecorded consumption: 0.36 liters Beer: 2.31 liters Wine: 8.14 liters Spirits: 2.62 liters Other: 0.17 liters
Photo: Anger O. | Stock Image | Getty Images

Per capita alcohol consumption: 13.66 liters
Recorded consumption: 13.30 liters
Unrecorded consumption: 0.36 liters

Per capita consumption by type (recorded)
Beer: 2.31 liters
Wine: 8.14 liters
Spirits: 2.62 liters
Other: 0.17 liters

13. Ireland

Per capita alcohol consumption: 14.41 liters Recorded consumption: 13.41 Unrecorded consumption: 1.00 Beer: 7.04 liters Wine: 2.75 liters Spirits: 2.51 liters Other: 1.09 liters
Photo: Holger Leue | Lonely Planet Images | Getty Images

Per capita alcohol consumption: 14.41 liters
Recorded consumption: 13.41
Unrecorded consumption: 1.00

Per capita consumption by type (recorded)
Beer: 7.04 liters
Wine: 2.75 liters
Spirits: 2.51 liters
Other: 1.09 liters

12. Portugal

Per capita alcohol consumption: 14.55 liters Recorded consumption: 14.55 liters Unrecorded consumption: 2.10 litres Beer: 3.75 liters Wine: 6.65 liters Spirits: 1.27 liters Other: 0.51 liters
Photo: Travel Inc | Gallo Images | Getty Images

Per capita alcohol consumption: 14.55 liters
Recorded consumption: 14.55 liters
Unrecorded consumption: 2.10 litres

Per capita consumption by type (recorded)
Beer: 3.75 liters
Wine: 6.65 liters
Spirits: 1.27 liters
Other: 0.51 liters

11. South Korea

Per capita alcohol consumption: 14.80 liters Recorded consumption: 11.80 liters Unrecorded consumption: 3.00 liters Beer: 2.14 liters Wine: 0.06 liters Spirits: 9.57 liters Other: 0.04 liters
Photo: Toshifumi Kitamura | Getty Images

Per capita alcohol consumption: 14.80 liters
Recorded consumption: 11.80 liters
Unrecorded consumption: 3.00 liters

Per capita consumption by type (recorded)
Beer: 2.14 liters
Wine: 0.06 liters
Spirits: 9.57 liters
Other: 0.04 liters

10. Croatia

Per capita alcohol consumption: 15.11 liters Recorded consumption: 12.61 liters Unrecorded consumption: 2.50 liters Beer: 4.66 liters Wine: 5.80 liters Spirits: 1.91 liters Other: 0.14 liters
Photo: Sarah-Jane Joel | Photographer's Choice | Getty Images

Per capita alcohol consumption: 15.11 liters
Recorded consumption: 12.61 liters
Unrecorded consumption: 2.50 liters

Per capita consumption by type (recorded)
Beer: 4.66 liters
Wine: 5.80 liters
Spirits: 1.91 liters
Other: 0.14 liters

9. Belarus

Per capita alcohol consumption: 15.13 liters Recorded consumption: 11.22 Unrecorded consumption: 3.91 Beer: 1.84 liters Wine: 0.80 liters Spirits: 4.08 liters Other: 2.67 liters
Photo: De Agostini | De Agostini Picture Library | Getty Images

Per capita alcohol consumption: 15.13 liters
Recorded consumption: 11.22
Unrecorded consumption: 3.91

Per capita consumption by type (recorded)
Beer: 1.84 liters
Wine: 0.80 liters
Spirits: 4.08 liters
Other: 2.67 liters

8. Romania

Per capita alcohol consumption: 15.30 liters Recorded consumption: 11.30 liters Unrecorded consumption: 4.00 liters Beer: 4.07 liters Wine: 2.33 liters Spirits: 4.14 liters Other: 0.00 liters
Photo: David Sutherland | Photographer's Choice | Getty Images

Per capita alcohol consumption: 15.30 liters
Recorded consumption: 11.30 liters
Unrecorded consumption: 4.00 liters

Per capita consumption by type (recorded)
Beer: 4.07 liters
Wine: 2.33 liters
Spirits: 4.14 liters
Other: 0.00 liters

7. Andorra

Per capita alcohol consumption: 15.48 liters Recorded consumption: 14.08 liters Unrecorded consumption: 1.40 liters Beer: 3.93 liters Wine: 5.69 liters Spirits: 3.14 liters Other: 0.00 liters
Photo: Pearl Bucknall | Robert Harding World Imagery | Getty Images

Per capita alcohol consumption: 15.48 liters
Recorded consumption: 14.08 liters
Unrecorded consumption: 1.40 liters

Per capita consumption by type (recorded)
Beer: 3.93 liters
Wine: 5.69 liters
Spirits: 3.14 liters
Other: 0.00 liters

6. Estonia

Per capita alcohol consumption: 15.57 liters Recorded consumption: 13.77 liters Unrecorded consumption: 1.80 liters Beer: 5.53 liters Wine: 1.09 liters Spirits: 9.19 liters Other: 0.43 liters
Photo: David Hogsholt | Getty Images

Per capita alcohol consumption: 15.57 liters
Recorded consumption: 13.77 liters
Unrecorded consumption: 1.80 liters

Per capita consumption by type (recorded)
Beer: 5.53 liters
Wine: 1.09 liters
Spirits: 9.19 liters
Other: 0.43 liters

Pictured: A young man drinking from a bottle held by an event girl in the night club Hollywood in Tallinn, Estonia.

5. Ukraine

Per capita alcohol consumption: 15.60 liters Recorded consumption: 8.10 liters Unrecorded consumption: 7.50 liters Beer: 2.69 liters Wine: 0.58 liters Spirits: 5.21 liters Other: 0.02 liters
Photo: Sergei Supinski | AFP | Getty Images

Per capita alcohol consumption: 15.60 liters
Recorded consumption: 8.10 liters
Unrecorded consumption: 7.50 liters

Per capita consumption by type (recorded)
Beer: 2.69 liters
Wine: 0.58 liters
Spirits: 5.21 liters
Other: 0.02 liters

Pictured: A young man quenches his thirst with a beer in downtown Kiev.

4. Russia

Per capita alcohol consumption: 15.76 liters Recorded consumption: 11.03 liters Unrecorded consumption: 4.73 liters Beer: 3.65 liters Wine: 0.10 liters Spirits: 6.88 liters Other: 0.34 liters
Photo: AP

Per capita alcohol consumption: 15.76 liters
Recorded consumption: 11.03 liters
Unrecorded consumption: 4.73 liters

Per capita consumption by type (recorded)
Beer: 3.65 liters
Wine: 0.10 liters
Spirits: 6.88 liters
Other: 0.34 liters

Pictured: Women drinking beer outside, Moscow, Russia.

3. Hungary

Per capita alcohol consumption: 16.27 liters Recorded consumption: 12.27 liters Unrecorded consumption: 4.00 liters Beer: 4.42 liters Wine: 4.94 liters Spirits: 3.02 liters Other: 0.14 liters
Photo: Attila Kisbenedek | AFP | Getty Images

Per capita alcohol consumption: 16.27 liters
Recorded consumption: 12.27 liters
Unrecorded consumption: 4.00 liters

Per capita consumption by type (recorded)
Beer: 4.42 liters
Wine: 4.94 liters
Spirits: 3.02 liters
Other: 0.14 liters

2. Czech Republic

Per capita alcohol consumption: 16.45 liters Recorded consumption: 14.97 liters Unrecorded consumption: 1.48 liters Beer: 8.51 liters Wine: 2.33 liters Spirits: 3.59 liters Other: 0.39 liters
Photo: Getty Images

Per capita alcohol consumption: 16.45 liters
Recorded consumption: 14.97 liters
Unrecorded consumption: 1.48 liters

Per capita consumption by type (recorded)
Beer: 8.51 liters
Wine: 2.33 liters
Spirits: 3.59 liters
Other: 0.39 liters

Photo: Locals have a conversation over Pilsner Urquell beer at U Zlateho Tygra (Golden Tiger) in the Czech Republic.

1. Moldova

Per capita alcohol consumption: 18.22 liters Recorded consumption: 8.22 liters Unrecorded consumption: 10.00 liters Beer: 4.57 liters Wine: 4.67 liters Spirits: 4.42 liters Other: 0.00 liters
Photo: AP

Per capita alcohol consumption: 18.22 liters
Recorded consumption: 8.22 liters
Unrecorded consumption: 10.00 liters

Per capita consumption by type (recorded)
Beer: 4.57 liters
Wine: 4.67 liters
Spirits: 4.42 liters
Other: 0.00 liters

Pictured: Barrels of wine in cellar, Cricova Winery in Cricova, Moldova