Alcohol Preferences Around the World
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Over 2 billion people worldwide consume alcohol regularly, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2019, the global average alcohol consumption per capita was 5.5 liters. But what are the most popular types of alcoholic beverages?
In this graphic, we show the global distribution of alcohol consumption by beverage type for 2019, based on WHO data.
Beer is the Top Alcoholic Beverage in Europe and the Americas
Globally, spirits lead as the most consumed alcoholic beverages, followed by beer, wine, and other types. However, regional preferences vary significantly.
RegionBeerWineSpiritsOther
African Region36%5%13%45%
Region of the Americas54%14%32%1%
Eastern Mediterranean Region40%15%42%3%
European Region40%31%28%2%
South-East Asian Region 10%0%89%0%
Western Pacific Region31%4%56%9%
World Average35%12%45%7%
Beer dominates alcohol consumption in Europe and the Americas. Its popularity is evident in both regions, where it surpasses other types of alcoholic drinks.
In fact, nine of the top 10 consumers of beer per capita are European nations. The Czech Republic remains the leader in per capita beer drinking, with the average Czech drinking more than 184 liters of beer. It is followed by Austria, Lithuania, and Romania.
Other beverages than beer, wine, or spirits make up 50% of recorded consumption in low-income countries.
Considering income levels, wine comprises 27% of alcohol consumption in high-income countries, compared to less than 10% in lower-income countries. Beer holds a market share of approximately 40% in upper-middle-income and high-income countries, 30% in low-income countries, and 20% in lower-middle-income countries.
The post Charted: Alcohol Preferences Around the World appeared first on Visual Capitalist.