Sweden vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Share of adults who drank alcohol in last year
Sweden
77.5%
in 2020
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
77.9%
in 2020
Sweden rank
14th
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
12th
Share of adults who drank alcohol in last year over time
- Sweden
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
How they compare
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland currently reports 77.9% against 77.5% in Sweden, a difference of 0.4%.
Across all 21 years both countries report, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has been ahead every year.
Sweden ranks 14th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 12th of 187 countries.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has averaged higher in every one of the 3 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Sweden | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 76.5% | 78.6% | 2.1% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2010s | 77.3% | 77.9% | 0.6% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| 2020s | 77.5% | 77.9% | 0.4% | United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher share of adults who drank alcohol in last year, Sweden or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, at 77.9% against 77.5% in Sweden as of 2020.
- What is the difference in share of adults who drank alcohol in last year between Sweden and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 0.4%, with United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Sweden and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- 21 years are reported by both, from 2000 to 2020.
- How do Sweden and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for share of adults who drank alcohol in last year?
- Sweden ranks 14th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 12th of 187 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as Share of adults who drank alcohol in last year. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Adults are defined as those aged 15 years and older. Shown is the share of adults who have drunk any alcohol in the preceding 12 months.