Average Spirits Consumption Per Capita 2014
Average spirits consumption per capita highlights drinking habits in different countries, measured in liters annually.
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Complete Data Rankings
Rank | Actions | ||
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Estonia | 6.77 liters | |
2 | Mongolia | 6.5 liters | |
3 | Lithuania | 5.76 liters | |
4 | Kyrgyzstan | 5.34 liters | |
5 | Dominica | 5.299 liters | |
6 | Saint Lucia | 4.864 liters | |
7 | Mauritius | 4.839 liters | |
8 | Belarus | 4.64 liters | |
9 | Thailand | 4.63 liters | |
10 | Barbados | 4.583 liters | |
11 | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 4.513 liters | |
12 | China | 4.45 liters | |
13 | Bulgaria | 4.24 liters | |
14 | Ukraine | 4.21 liters | |
15 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 4.161 liters | |
16 | Slovakia | 4.13 liters | |
17 | Hungary | 4.09 liters | |
18 | Latvia | 4 liters | |
19 | Russia | 3.95 liters | |
20 | Seychelles | 3.872 liters | |
21 | Poland | 3.76 liters | |
22 | Laos | 3.736 liters | |
23 | Philippines | 3.631 liters | |
24 | Antigua and Barbuda | 3.59 liters | |
25 | Republic of Moldova | 3.54 liters | |
26 | Grenada | 3.499 liters | |
27 | Armenia | 3.482 liters | |
28 | Guyana | 3.383 liters | |
29 | North Korea | 3.353 liters | |
30 | Bahamas | 3.298 liters | |
31 | Georgia | 3.284 liters | |
32 | Czech Republic | 3.16 liters | |
33 | Brazil | 3.06 liters | |
34 | United States | 3.03 liters | |
35 | Suriname | 2.885 liters | |
36 | India | 2.788 liters | |
37 | Zimbabwe | 2.783 liters | |
38 | Montenegro | 2.659 liters | |
39 | Trinidad and Tobago | 2.597 liters | |
40 | Serbia | 2.596 liters | |
41 | Cuba | 2.537 liters | |
42 | Haiti | 2.525 liters | |
43 | France | 2.47 liters | |
44 | Luxembourg | 2.465 liters | |
45 | Germany | 2.46 liters | |
46 | Niue | 2.329 liters | |
47 | Liberia | 2.32 liters | |
48 | Andorra | 2.315 liters | |
49 | Chile | 2.28 liters | |
50 | Angola | 2.265 liters | |
51 | Uzbekistan | 2.17 liters | |
52 | Spain | 2.16 liters | |
53 | Peru | 2.142 liters | |
54 | Nicaragua | 2.124 liters | |
55 | Canada | 2.05 liters | |
56 | United Kingdom | 2.03 liters | |
57 | Sri Lanka | 2.01 liters | |
58 | Ireland | 1.99 liters | |
59 | Malta | 1.903 liters | |
60 | Jamaica | 1.853 liters | |
61 | Paraguay | 1.839 liters | |
62 | Nauru | 1.814 liters | |
63 | Austria | 1.75 liters | |
64 | Dominican Republic | 1.75 liters | |
65 | Albania | 1.733 liters | |
66 | Belize | 1.676 liters | |
67 | United Arab Emirates | 1.66 liters | |
68 | Cyprus | 1.643 liters | |
69 | Denmark | 1.59 liters | |
70 | Kazakhstan | 1.54 liters | |
71 | Greece | 1.515 liters | |
72 | New Zealand | 1.49 liters | |
73 | Botswana | 1.482 liters | |
74 | Belgium | 1.47 liters | |
75 | Romania | 1.42 liters | |
76 | Switzerland | 1.41 liters | |
77 | Portugal | 1.4 liters | |
78 | Venezuela | 1.376 liters | |
79 | El Salvador | 1.342 liters | |
80 | Netherlands | 1.32 liters | |
81 | Panama | 1.307 liters | |
82 | Croatia | 1.305 liters | |
83 | Uruguay | 1.25 liters | |
84 | Vanuatu | 1.246 liters | |
85 | Honduras | 1.241 liters | |
86 | Finland | 1.24 liters | |
87 | Turkmenistan | 1.233 liters | |
88 | Australia | 1.23 liters | |
89 | South Africa | 1.21 liters | |
90 | Equatorial Guinea | 1.122 liters | |
91 | Iceland | 1.12 liters | |
92 | Gabon | 1.11 liters | |
93 | Israel | 1.063 liters | |
94 | Bahrain | 1.06 liters | |
95 | Norway | 1.04 liters | |
96 | Myanmar | 1.033 liters | |
97 | Sweden | 0.99 liters | |
98 | Côte d'Ivoire | 0.984 liters | |
99 | Cabo Verde | 0.965 liters | |
100 | Nigeria | 0.933 liters | |
101 | Italy | 0.86 liters | |
102 | North Macedonia | 0.823 liters | |
103 | Slovenia | 0.8 liters | |
104 | Namibia | 0.755 liters | |
105 | Ecuador | 0.724 liters | |
106 | Kenya | 0.716 liters | |
107 | Qatar | 0.713 liters | |
108 | Guatemala | 0.706 liters | |
109 | Fiji | 0.692 liters | |
110 | Maldives | 0.649 liters | |
111 | Japan | 0.63 liters | |
112 | Uganda | 0.602 liters | |
113 | Bolivia | 0.576 liters | |
114 | Lebanon | 0.576 liters | |
115 | Argentina | 0.55 liters | |
116 | Ghana | 0.542 liters | |
117 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 0.538 liters | |
118 | Papua New Guinea | 0.529 liters | |
119 | Guinea-Bissau | 0.508 liters | |
120 | Micronesia (Fed. States of) | 0.49 liters | |
121 | Nepal | 0.462 liters | |
122 | Turkey | 0.46 liters | |
123 | Tajikistan | 0.458 liters | |
124 | Tanzania | 0.43 liters | |
125 | Colombia | 0.423 liters | |
126 | Cambodia | 0.398 liters | |
127 | Mexico | 0.38 liters | |
128 | Costa Rica | 0.37 liters | |
129 | Lesotho | 0.353 liters | |
130 | Iraq | 0.347 liters | |
131 | Congo | 0.335 liters | |
132 | South Korea | 0.33 liters | |
133 | Sao Tome and Principe | 0.293 liters | |
134 | Jordan | 0.291 liters | |
135 | Bhutan | 0.285 liters | |
136 | Vietnam | 0.237 liters | |
137 | Oman | 0.234 liters | |
138 | Singapore | 0.23 liters | |
139 | Tuvalu | 0.22 liters | |
140 | Zambia | 0.213 liters | |
141 | Madagascar | 0.205 liters | |
142 | Djibouti | 0.204 liters | |
143 | Togo | 0.204 liters | |
144 | Mozambique | 0.195 liters | |
145 | Benin | 0.188 liters | |
146 | Syrian Arab Republic | 0.174 liters | |
147 | Burkina Faso | 0.174 liters | |
148 | Kiribati | 0.156 liters | |
149 | Malawi | 0.154 liters | |
150 | Tunisia | 0.134 liters | |
151 | Rwanda | 0.13 liters | |
152 | Ethiopia | 0.126 liters | |
153 | Eswatini | 0.115 liters | |
154 | Malaysia | 0.113 liters | |
155 | Gambia | 0.113 liters | |
156 | Tonga | 0.11 liters | |
157 | Samoa | 0.098 liters | |
158 | Algeria | 0.076 liters | |
159 | Morocco | 0.066 liters | |
160 | Niger | 0.066 liters | |
161 | Kuwait | 0.064 liters | |
162 | Egypt | 0.064 liters | |
163 | Timor-Leste | 0.05 liters | |
164 | Comoros | 0.049 liters | |
165 | Brunei Darussalam | 0.048 liters | |
166 | Solomon Islands | 0.034 liters | |
167 | Pakistan | 0.032 liters | |
168 | Chad | 0.032 liters | |
169 | Sierra Leone | 0.031 liters | |
170 | Senegal | 0.025 liters | |
171 | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 0.025 liters | |
172 | Mali | 0.016 liters | |
173 | Central African Republic | 0.014 liters | |
174 | Guinea | 0.014 liters | |
175 | Indonesia | 0.014 liters | |
176 | Cameroon | 0.012 liters | |
177 | Burundi | 0.005 liters | |
178 | Bangladesh | 0.003 liters | |
179 | Afghanistan | 0 liters | |
180 | Eritrea | 0 liters | |
181 | Iran | 0 liters | |
182 | Libya | 0 liters | |
183 | Mauritania | 0 liters | |
184 | Somalia | 0 liters | |
185 | Sudan | 0 liters | |
186 | Yemen | 0 liters |
- #1
Estonia
- #2
Mongolia
- #3
Lithuania
- #4
Kyrgyzstan
- #5
Dominica
- #6
Saint Lucia
- #7
Mauritius
- #8
Belarus
- #9
Thailand
- #10
Barbados
Analysis: These countries represent the highest values in this dataset, showcasing significant scale and impact on global statistics.
- #186
Yemen
- #185
Sudan
- #184
Somalia
- #183
Mauritania
- #182
Libya
- #181
Iran
- #180
Eritrea
- #179
Afghanistan
- #178
Bangladesh
- #177
Burundi
Context: These countries or territories have the lowest values, often due to geographic size, administrative status, or specific characteristics.
Insights by country
Zambia
Zambia ranked #140 globally in 2014 for Average Spirits Consumption Per Capita, with a value of 0.21330085 liters. This figure is notably lower than the global average, indicating limited access or consumption of spirits compared to many countries. Contributing factors include Zambia's economic landscape, where a significant portion of the population lives in poverty, impacting discretionary spending on alcohol, and cultural attitudes towards drinking that may prioritize beer over spirits.
Syrian Arab Republic
In 2014, the Syrian Arab Republic ranked #146 globally in Average Spirits Consumption Per Capita, with a value of 0.17449395 liters. This figure is notably lower than many countries in the region, reflecting cultural and religious factors that influence alcohol consumption. Ongoing conflict and economic instability have also contributed to limited access to spirits, impacting both production and consumption patterns.
New Zealand
In 2014, New Zealand ranked #72 globally with an average spirits consumption per capita of 1.49 liters. This figure is notably lower than the global average, reflecting a cultural preference for beer and wine over spirits. Contributing factors include New Zealand's strong wine industry, particularly in regions like Marlborough, and government regulations that influence alcohol consumption patterns.
Somalia
In 2014, Somalia ranked #184 globally for Average Spirits Consumption Per Capita, with a value of 0 liters. This figure places Somalia among the lowest consumers of spirits, significantly below the global average. The absence of spirits consumption can be attributed to the country's predominantly Muslim population, where Islamic law restricts alcohol consumption, alongside ongoing socio-economic challenges that limit access to such products.
Ukraine
In 2014, Ukraine ranked #14 globally for Average Spirits Consumption Per Capita, with a value of 4.21 liters. This figure is notably higher than the global average, reflecting cultural practices and social norms around alcohol consumption in Eastern Europe. Economic challenges and a historical context of alcohol production have contributed to high consumption levels, as spirits are often more affordable than other beverages.
Sao Tome and Principe
Sao Tome and Principe ranked #133 globally in 2014 for Average Spirits Consumption Per Capita, with a consumption of 0.29256907 liters. This figure is notably lower than the global average, reflecting the country's smaller population and limited market for alcoholic beverages compared to larger nations. Economic factors, including a reliance on agriculture and tourism, alongside cultural attitudes towards alcohol consumption, contribute to this relatively low level of spirits consumption.
Turkey
In 2014, Turkey ranked #122 globally for Average Spirits Consumption Per Capita, with a value of 0.46 liters. This figure is notably lower than many of its regional neighbors, reflecting a cultural preference for non-alcoholic beverages. Factors such as the predominance of Islamic practices, which discourage alcohol consumption, and government regulations on alcohol sales contribute to this low consumption rate.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom ranked #56 globally in 2014 for Average Spirits Consumption Per Capita at 2.03 liters. This figure is notably lower than the global average, reflecting a more moderate drinking culture compared to countries with higher consumption rates, such as Belarus. Contributing factors include stringent alcohol regulations, public health campaigns aimed at reducing binge drinking, and a growing trend towards lower alcohol consumption among younger demographics in the UK.
Thailand
In 2014, Thailand ranked #9 globally for Average Spirits Consumption Per Capita, with a value of 4.63 liters. This consumption level is notably higher than many of its Southeast Asian neighbors, reflecting a strong cultural affinity for spirits, particularly in social and celebratory contexts. Factors such as tourism, which significantly boosts local consumption, and a vibrant nightlife scene in urban areas contribute to this high ranking.
Mauritania
Mauritania ranked #183 globally in 2014 for Average Spirits Consumption Per Capita, with a value of 0 liters. This figure is significantly lower than the global average, reflecting the country's cultural and religious practices that discourage alcohol consumption.
Islam is the predominant religion in Mauritania, where strict adherence to Islamic law limits the availability and social acceptance of alcoholic beverages. Additionally, economic factors and a lack of infrastructure for alcohol distribution contribute to this low consumption rate.
Analysis & Context
In 2014, Estonia led the world in Average Spirits Consumption Per Capita with a consumption of 6.77 liters annually, while the global range extended from 0.00 liters to this maximum value. The global average for spirits consumption was 1.51 liters, providing a benchmark to understand different countries' drinking habits. This data helps illuminate global patterns in alcohol consumption across 186 countries.
Top Consumers and Cultural Influences
The data reveals that Eastern European countries dominate the top of the list for spirits consumption, with Estonia and Lithuania consuming 6.77 and 5.76 liters per capita, respectively. These high levels of consumption can be attributed to cultural norms where spirits play a significant role in social and celebratory events. Similarly, in Mongolia, which ranks second with 6.5 liters, traditional and cultural practices involving spirits contribute to the high consumption levels. These countries' historical ties to spirits, particularly vodka, influence these statistics significantly.
Abstinent Nations and Policy Impacts
At the other end of the spectrum, several countries report a consumption of 0.00 liters, including Sudan, Libya, and Iran. These nations typically have strict regulations or prohibitions on alcohol consumption often rooted in religious beliefs, particularly in Islamic countries where alcohol is forbidden. The influence of religious doctrine and corresponding legislation results in minimal or no spirits consumption, as seen in Somalia and Afghanistan as well.
Economic Factors and Their Effects
Economic conditions also play a role in spirits consumption. In countries like Belarus (4.64 liters) and Kyrgyzstan (5.34 liters), lower spirits prices relative to income levels make alcohol more accessible. Conversely, in wealthier nations, higher taxes and prices may curb consumption despite higher disposable incomes. Additionally, Thailand and Barbados, with consumption of 4.63 and 4.58 liters respectively, reflect a balance between cultural affinity for spirits and economic accessibility.
Trends and Year-over-Year Changes
The year-over-year changes in spirits consumption highlight significant shifts. Botswana saw the largest increase, with a rise of 0.66 liters (80.1%), likely due to economic growth and changing social attitudes towards alcohol. Similarly, Nigeria experienced a dramatic increase of 0.60 liters (179.3%), potentially reflecting its rapidly expanding economy and urbanization. In contrast, Mongolia experienced a significant decrease of 2.49 liters (-27.7%), possibly due to government initiatives aimed at reducing alcohol consumption for public health reasons. Eswatini, with a decrease of 1.15 liters (-90.9%), may reflect similar policy interventions or shifts in public attitudes.
The analysis of Average Spirits Consumption Per Capita in 2014 reveals a complex interplay of cultural, economic, and policy factors that shape drinking habits across the globe. By examining these patterns, we gain insights into the diverse landscape of alcohol consumption and the various influences that drive it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Average Spirits Consumption Per Capita in 2014
Which country had the highest average spirits consumption per capita in 2014?
Estonia had the highest average spirits consumption per capita in 2014, with 6.77 liters.
What was the lowest average spirits consumption per capita recorded in 2014?
The lowest average spirits consumption per capita in 2014 was 0 liters, recorded in Sudan.
What was the average spirits consumption per capita across all countries in 2014?
The average spirits consumption per capita across all countries in 2014 was 1.51 liters.
What was the median spirits consumption per capita in 2014?
The median spirits consumption per capita in 2014 was 1.06 liters.
Which countries were in the top 3 for spirits consumption per capita in 2014?
The top 3 countries for spirits consumption per capita in 2014 were Estonia with 6.77 liters, Mongolia with 6.5 liters, and Lithuania with 5.76 liters.
How many countries were included in the dataset for average spirits consumption per capita in 2014?
The dataset for average spirits consumption per capita in 2014 included 186 countries.
Data Source
Spirits consumption per person | World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory via Our World in Data
Data produced by World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory, compiled and published by Our World in Data as "Spirits consumption per person".
Visit Data SourceCite this page
Geo Factbook. (n.d.). Average Spirits Consumption Per Capita by Country, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2026, from https://geofactbook.com/fact/average-spirits-consumption-per-capita/2014
The figures on this page come from Spirits consumption per person | World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory via Our World in Data. For academic work, cite the original source as well.
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