Share of people who don't drink alcohol, men vs women in South Africa
South Africa: Share of people who don't drink alcohol, men vs women was 46.9% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of people who don't drink alcohol, men vs women in South Africa, 2000–2020
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of people who don't drink alcohol, men vs women in South Africa stood at 46.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.0% on the previous year and up 1.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people who don't drink alcohol, men vs women in South Africa peaked at 48.3% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 43.4%, in 2019.
South Africa ranks 63rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Share of people who don't drink alcohol, men vs women in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 47.4% | — |
| 2001 | 47.7% | +0.5% |
| 2002 | 48.0% | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 48.3% | +0.6% |
| 2004 | 47.9% | -0.7% |
| 2005 | 47.6% | -0.5% |
| 2006 | 47.2% | -0.8% |
| 2007 | 46.5% | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 46.4% | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 46.6% | +0.6% |
| 2010 | 46.3% | -0.7% |
| 2011 | 45.5% | -1.7% |
| 2012 | 45.2% | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 44.8% | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 44.6% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 44.2% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 44.2% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 44.2% | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 43.9% | -0.6% |
| 2019 | 43.4% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 46.9% | +8.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 47.4% | 46.4% | 48.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.6% | 43.4% | 46.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.9% | 46.9% | 46.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 60 Tanzania, United Republic of 48.0% compare
- 61 Solomon Islands 47.4% compare
- 62 Papua New Guinea 47.1% compare
- 64 Botswana 45.9% compare
- 65 Tuvalu 45.5% compare
- 66 Vanuatu 45.2% compare
More gender data for South Africa
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 17,151 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.6591 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 51,011 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 51,011 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.07 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 570,099 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 589,533 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 570,599 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 589,626 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 569,634 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people who don't drink alcohol, men vs women in South Africa?
- Share of people who don't drink alcohol, men vs women in South Africa was 46.9% in 2020, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of people who don't drink alcohol, men vs women recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 48.3% in 2003.
- What is the lowest share of people who don't drink alcohol, men vs women recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 43.4% in 2019.
- How does South Africa rank for share of people who don't drink alcohol, men vs women?
- South Africa ranks 63rd out of 187 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of people who don't drink alcohol, men vs women rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of people who don't drink alcohol, men vs women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of men vs women (15 years and older) who have not consumed any alcohol during their lifetime. This data is age-standardized.