The latest global alcohol consumption data reveals the countries with the highest average alcohol intake, with Europe dominating the top of the ranking.
Romania emerges as the country with the highest alcohol consumption in the latest global ranking, with an average of 16.8 liters of pure alcohol consumed per person aged 15 and above annually.
The figures are from the latest World Health Organization (WHO) alcohol consumption data published through the World Bank and featured by Our World in Data, which shows the total alcohol consumption per person aged 15 and above, including both recorded and unrecorded alcohol consumption, while accounting for alcohol consumed by tourists.
Romania Leads Global Alcohol Consumption Ranking
Romania came first, recording 16.8 litres of pure alcohol per person, while Georgia ranked second with 14.41 litres, followed by Latvia at 12.87 litres.
Lithuania came fourth with 12.10 liters, while Czechia completed the top five with 11.99 liters.
Germany ranked sixth at 11.84 litres, followed by Poland at 11.66 litres.
Belarus recorded 11.63 litres, Bulgaria 11.62 litres, while Austria rounded out the top 10 with 11.51 litres.
Top 10 Countries by Alcohol Consumption
| Rank | Country | Litres of pure alcohol |
| 1 | Romania | 16.80 |
| 2 | Georgia | 14.41 |
| 3 | Latvia | 12.87 |
| 4 | Lithuania | 12.10 |
| 5 | Czechia | 11.99 |
| 6 | Germany | 11.84 |
| 7 | Poland | 11.66 |
| 8 | Belarus | 11.63 |
| 9 | Bulgaria | 11.62 |
| 10 | Austria | 11.51 |
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Europe Dominates the List
European countries dominate the ranking, accounting for eight of the 10 countries with the highest alcohol consumption.
Romania recorded a considerably higher level than the other countries in the top 10, with consumption exceeding 16 litres of pure alcohol per person.
Georgia, which ranks second, is the only non-European country in the top five, while European nations occupy the remaining positions.
The figures, however, measure average consumption across the population aged 15 and above. They do not mean that every person in a country consumes alcohol at the stated level.
The measure also does not represent liters of beer, wine, or spirits; it converts different alcoholic drinks into their equivalent volume of pure alcohol.
Uganda Ranks Highest in Africa
Uganda is the highest-ranked African country in the latest dataset, recording 11.30 litres of pure alcohol per person and placing 11th globally.
Burkina Faso followed at 11.27 liters, while Tanzania recorded 10.95 liters.
The figures place several African countries among the world’s higher alcohol-consuming populations.
What the alcohol consumption figures measure
The indicator used for the ranking is total alcohol consumption per capita for people aged 15 and older.
According to the methodology used by WHO and reproduced by Our World in Data, the measure includes alcohol sold through official channels as well as estimated consumption from unrecorded sources.
The figures are adjusted for tourist consumption to make cross-country comparisons more meaningful.
This is important because alcohol consumption statistics can differ from national sales figures.
A country with significant tourism, for example, may have alcohol consumed by visitors that is not representative of the resident population.
High consumption does not mean widespread alcohol dependence
The ranking should also not be interpreted as a list of countries with the highest rates of alcoholism.
Per-capita alcohol consumption is a population-level measure which shows the average amount of pure alcohol consumed but does not indicate how that consumption is distributed among individuals.
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A relatively small group of heavy drinkers can account for a substantial share of a country’s total consumption, while many other people may drink little or not at all.
WHO has identified alcohol consumption as a major risk factor for a range of health conditions, including alcohol-use disorders, liver disease, cardiovascular diseases, some cancers and injuries.
Alcohol Laws Differ Across Countries
The amount of alcohol consumed in a country is also separate from the laws governing its sale and consumption.
Countries have different rules covering the minimum legal drinking age, retail hours, licensing requirements, identification checks and consumption in public places.
In Kenya, for example, the legal age for buying or being supplied with alcohol is 18 years, with the Alcoholic Drinks Control Act prohibiting the sale, supply, or provision of alcoholic drinks to people under that age.
Retailers can request identification to establish whether a customer has reached the legal age. Acceptable identification includes documents such as a national identity card or passport.
Alcohol sales are also subject to licensing and prescribed operating hours. General retail alcohol outlets may operate only during specific hours, while supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, and other licensed establishments may face different conditions.
Rules governing drinking in public places can also vary depending on national and county regulations.
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