Alcohol consumption in China
China: Alcohol consumption was 3.5 Litres per person in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
3.5 Litres per person
Change on year
down 5.4%
World rank
36th
of 41 countries
All-time high
6.5 Litres per person
in 2016
All-time low
0.5 Litres per person
in 1961
Years of data
62
1961–2022
Alcohol consumption in China, 1961–2022
Source: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Measured in Litres per person.
Analysis
China recorded 3.5 Litres per person for alcohol consumption in 2022.
The figure is down 5.4% on the previous year and down 41.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, alcohol consumption in China peaked at 6.5 Litres per person in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0.5 Litres per person, in 1961.
That places China 36th out of 41 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Alcohol consumption in China, year by year
| Year | Litres per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 0.5 Litres per person | — |
| 1962 | 0.6 Litres per person | +20.0% |
| 1963 | 0.6 Litres per person | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 0.6 Litres per person | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 0.7 Litres per person | +16.7% |
| 1966 | 0.8 Litres per person | +14.3% |
| 1967 | 0.7 Litres per person | -12.5% |
| 1968 | 0.8 Litres per person | +14.3% |
| 1969 | 0.8 Litres per person | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 0.8 Litres per person | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 0.8 Litres per person | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 0.9 Litres per person | +12.5% |
| 1973 | 1 Litres per person | +11.1% |
| 1974 | 1.1 Litres per person | +10.0% |
| 1975 | 1.2 Litres per person | +9.1% |
| 1976 | 1.3 Litres per person | +8.3% |
| 1977 | 1.2 Litres per person | -7.7% |
| 1978 | 1.2 Litres per person | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 1.3 Litres per person | +8.3% |
| 1980 | 1.7 Litres per person | +30.8% |
| 1981 | 1.9 Litres per person | +11.8% |
| 1982 | 2.1 Litres per person | +10.5% |
| 1983 | 2.3 Litres per person | +9.5% |
| 1984 | 2.4 Litres per person | +4.3% |
| 1985 | 2.5 Litres per person | +4.2% |
| 1986 | 2.9 Litres per person | +16.0% |
| 1987 | 3.3 Litres per person | +13.8% |
| 1988 | 3.5 Litres per person | +6.1% |
| 1989 | 3.2 Litres per person | -8.6% |
| 1990 | 3.3 Litres per person | +3.1% |
| 1991 | 3.4 Litres per person | +3.0% |
| 1992 | 3.5 Litres per person | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 3.8 Litres per person | +8.6% |
| 1994 | 4 Litres per person | +5.3% |
| 1995 | 4.7 Litres per person | +17.5% |
| 1996 | 4.5 Litres per person | -4.3% |
| 1997 | 4.6 Litres per person | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 3.9 Litres per person | -15.2% |
| 1999 | 3.6 Litres per person | -7.7% |
| 2000 | 3 Litres per person | -16.7% |
| 2001 | 2.7 Litres per person | -10.0% |
| 2002 | 2.5 Litres per person | -7.4% |
| 2003 | 2.4 Litres per person | -4.0% |
| 2004 | 2.4 Litres per person | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 2.6 Litres per person | +8.3% |
| 2006 | 2.9 Litres per person | +11.5% |
| 2007 | 3.4 Litres per person | +17.2% |
| 2008 | 3.7 Litres per person | +8.8% |
| 2009 | 4.2 Litres per person | +13.5% |
| 2010 | 5 Litres per person | +19.0% |
| 2011 | 5.6 Litres per person | +12.0% |
| 2012 | 6 Litres per person | +7.1% |
| 2013 | 6.3 Litres per person | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 6.4 Litres per person | +1.6% |
| 2015 | 6.4 Litres per person | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 6.5 Litres per person | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 5.9 Litres per person | -9.2% |
| 2018 | 4.6 Litres per person | -22.0% |
| 2019 | 4.2 Litres per person | -8.7% |
| 2020 | 3.8 Litres per person | -9.5% |
| 2021 | 3.7 Litres per person | -2.6% |
| 2022 | 3.5 Litres per person | -5.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 3.5 Litres per person is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5.65 Litres per person, 62% of the median. (10 countries reporting)
- China's 3.5 Litres per person is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6.7 Litres per person, 52% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.6778 Litres per person | 0.5 Litres per person | 0.8 Litres per person | 9 |
| 1970s | 1.08 Litres per person | 0.8 Litres per person | 1.3 Litres per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.58 Litres per person | 1.7 Litres per person | 3.5 Litres per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.93 Litres per person | 3.3 Litres per person | 4.7 Litres per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.98 Litres per person | 2.4 Litres per person | 4.2 Litres per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.69 Litres per person | 4.2 Litres per person | 6.5 Litres per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.67 Litres per person | 3.5 Litres per person | 3.8 Litres per person | 3 |
Countries ranked near China
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is alcohol consumption in China?
- Alcohol consumption in China was 3.5 Litres per person in 2022, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- What is the highest alcohol consumption recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 6.5 Litres per person in 2016.
- What is the lowest alcohol consumption recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.5 Litres per person in 1961.
- How does China rank for alcohol consumption?
- China ranks 36th out of 41 countries with data for 2022.
- Is alcohol consumption rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 41.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, published as part of Alcohol consumption. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Unhealthy lifestyles and poor environments cause millions of people to die prematurely. Smoking, harmful alcohol use, physical inactivity and obesity are the root cause of many chronic conditions. This dataset presents the latest data for alcohol consumption. Please refer to the Sources and Methods for detailed country-specific information.