South Africa vs United States of America: Alcohol consumption per capita in men and women

South Africa
15.2 litres pure alcohol
in 2019
United States of America
15.03 litres pure alcohol
in 2019
South Africa rank
39th
United States of America rank
41st

Alcohol consumption per capita in men and women over time

  • South Africa
  • United States of America
051015200020092019

How they compare

South Africa currently reports 15.2 litres pure alcohol against 15.03 litres pure alcohol in United States of America, a difference of 0.17 litres pure alcohol.

Across all 5 years both countries report, South Africa has been ahead every year.

South Africa ranks 39th and United States of America ranks 41st of 186 countries.

South Africa has averaged higher in every one of the 2 decades both report.

Head to head by decade

Decade South Africa United States of America Difference Ahead
2000s 15.5 litres pure alcohol 14.5 litres pure alcohol 1 litres pure alcohol South Africa
2010s 15.19 litres pure alcohol 14.9 litres pure alcohol 0.2967 litres pure alcohol South Africa

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher alcohol consumption per capita in men and women, South Africa or United States of America?
South Africa, at 15.2 litres pure alcohol against 15.03 litres pure alcohol in United States of America as of 2019.
What is the difference in alcohol consumption per capita in men and women between South Africa and United States of America?
0.17 litres pure alcohol, with South Africa ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for South Africa and United States of America?
5 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2019.
How do South Africa and United States of America rank globally for alcohol consumption per capita in men and women?
South Africa ranks 39th and United States of America ranks 41st of 186 countries.
Where does this data come from?
World Health Organization – processed by Our World in Data, published as Alcohol consumption per capita in men and women. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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South Africa vs United States of America: Alcohol consumption per capita in men and women. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 13 September 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/compare/alcohol-consumption-per-capita-men-women/south-africa/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Alcohol consumption per capita in men and women
Unit
litres pure alcohol
Source
World Health Organization – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
186 places, 930 data points, 2000–2019
Last refreshed

Alcohol consumption per capita (aged 15 years and older) within a calendar year (litres of pure alcohol).