Beer Consumption Around The World: Country Comparison

Beer is one of the most widely consumed alcoholic beverages in the world, with a long history that dates back to ancient civilizations in the Middle East. While it is enjoyed globally, different countries vary in their per capita consumption. The Czech Republic consistently tops the list, with 30 years of holding the highest per capita consumption. In 2021, the average person in the Czech Republic consumed 140.12 litres of beer per year. China, on the other hand, leads in total volume, consuming 34,979 thousand tons of beer in 2021.

Which country drinks the most beer per capita?

The Czech Republic is the country that drinks the most beer per capita. In 2021, the country consumed 140.12 litres per capita, and in 2022, this figure was 188.5 litres per capita. This marks the 29th or 30th year in a row that the Czech Republic has consumed the most beer in the world per capita.

In the Czech Republic, beer is cheaper than bottled water, with beer typically costing $1 for a half-litre. The country is also the birthplace of pilsner.

In second place for the highest per-capita beer consumption is Austria, with 98.7 litres consumed per capita in 2023. This is almost double the amount of beer consumed in third-placed Botswana, which boasts high per-capita beer consumption due to cultural and social dynamics involving alcohol consumption, as well as the economic factor of beer being an affordable alcoholic beverage.

In terms of total volume of beer consumed, China leads the way, with 34,979 thousand tons consumed in 2022. However, due to its large population, China does not feature in the top 35 countries for beer consumption per capita.

Which country consumes the most beer overall?

China is the largest consumer of beer in terms of volume, retaining the top spot for the last 20 years. In 2021, the country consumed 34,979 thousand tons of beer. However, when it comes to per-capita consumption, the Czech Republic leads the way. With 140.12 litres consumed per person in 2021, the average person in the Czech Republic drinks more than one bottle of beer per day. The country has held the top spot for 30 consecutive years and is the birthplace of pilsner, a pale lager invented in 1842 using Czech hops.

How does the US compare?

Beer is the world's most popular alcoholic beverage, and different countries consume varying amounts. The United States, for instance, consumes 6.5 billion gallons of beer annually. However, when it comes to per capita consumption, the US falls behind several other nations.

In 2021, the US ranked 24th in the world for per capita beer consumption, with 72.89 litres consumed per person. This is significantly lower than the top-ranked Czech Republic, where 140.12 litres of beer were consumed per capita in the same year. The following year, in 2022, the US placed 31st in global beer consumption per capita, with its consumption being about a third of the top-ranked Czechia (formerly known as the Czech Republic).

While the US is a significant beer consumer, its per capita consumption is relatively moderate compared to some countries. This could be influenced by various factors, such as cultural preferences, population size, or economic conditions.

Looking at regional consumption, North America, which includes the US, experienced a 4% decrease in beer consumption from 2021 to 2022, with a 4.2% decline specifically in the US. This decrease contributed to North America's 4th place ranking in global beer consumption by region in 2022.

How does beer consumption vary across continents?

Beer is the most widely consumed alcoholic beverage in the world. While China is the largest overall consumer of beer, the Czech Republic has the highest per-capita consumption. In fact, nine of the top ten countries by beer consumption per capita are in Europe.

Europe

The Czech Republic has held the top spot in beer consumption per capita for 30 consecutive years, with the average person drinking more than one bottle of beer per day. In 2021, the country consumed 140.12 litres per capita, and in 2022, this figure was 188.5 litres. Beer in the Czech Republic is cheaper than bottled water, typically costing $1 USD for half a litre. The country is also the birthplace of the pilsner, a pale lager first invented in 1842 from Czech hops.

Other European countries in the top ten for beer consumption per capita include Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Austria.

Asia

Asia is the world's largest beer-consuming region, with a 33.9% share of the global beer market. China is the largest beer-consuming country in the region and the world, for the 20th consecutive year. In 2021, China's consumption increased by 5.6% year-on-year. Other Asian countries with significant beer consumption include Vietnam, India, Japan, and South Korea.

Cambodia is the top beer-drinking country in Asia by per-capita consumption.

Africa

In Africa, Gabon leads the way in per-capita beer consumption, with citizens drinking an average of 6.37 litres of ethanol from beer per year. Botswana is also in the top ten countries for beer consumption per capita. Namibia is the top beer-drinking country in Africa by per-capita consumption.

Latin America

Panama is the highest-ranked country in Latin America for per-capita beer consumption.

North America

In North America, the United States is the top-ranked country for beer consumption per capita, though it only ranks 24th in the world.

Which countries drink the least beer?

Beer is the most widely consumed alcoholic beverage in the world. According to the Oxford Companion to Beer, it is the third most popular drink overall, surpassed only by water and tea.

While China is the largest overall consumer of beer, the countries that drink the least beer per capita are:

• Tuvalu
• Tonga
• Bangladesh
• Syria
• Bhutan
• Yemen
• Niger

These countries all report consumption of less than 0.03 litres of ethanol from beer per capita annually. It is worth noting that several countries, including Afghanistan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and Sudan, do not report any beer consumption at all.

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