Share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in Belgium

Belgium: Share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days was 35.8% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
35.8%
Change on year
down 2.1%
World rank
121st
of 187 countries
All-time high
40.2%
in 2000
All-time low
35.8%
in 2020
Years of data
21
2000–2020

Share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in Belgium, 2000–2020

0102030402000201020202000: 40.2 %2001: 39.8 %2002: 39.8 %2003: 39.5 %2004: 39.3 %2005: 39.1 %2006: 38.9 %2007: 38.6 %2008: 38.9 %2009: 38.5 %2010: 38.5 %2011: 38.2 %2012: 38 %2013: 38 %2014: 38 %2015: 37.8 %2016: 37 %2017: 36.9 %2018: 36.7 %2019: 36.6 %2020: 35.8 %

Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in Belgium is 35.8%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.

The figure is down 2.1% on the previous year and down 6.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in Belgium peaked at 40.2% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 35.8%, in 2020.

Belgium ranks 121st of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 39.3% 38.5% 40.2% 10
2010s 37.6% 36.6% 38.5% 10
2020s 35.8% 35.8% 35.8% 1

Countries ranked near Belgium

  1. 118 Eritrea 36.0% compare
  2. 119 Slovenia 35.9% compare
  3. 120 Belarus 35.9% compare
  4. 122 Myanmar 35.6% compare
  5. 123 Brazil 35.2% compare
  6. 124 Venezuela 35.1% compare

See the full ranking of 187 places →

More reference data data for Belgium

All data for Belgium →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in Belgium?
Share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in Belgium was 35.8% in 2020, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days recorded in Belgium?
The highest recorded value was 40.2% in 2000.
What is the lowest share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days recorded in Belgium?
The lowest recorded value was 35.8% in 2020.
How does Belgium rank for share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days?
Belgium ranks 121st out of 187 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days rising or falling in Belgium?
Over the last ten years it is down 6.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Belgium data come from?
The figures come from World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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About this data

Indicator
Share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days
Unit
%
Source
World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
187 places, 3,927 data points, 2000–2020
Last refreshed

Heavy episodic drinking (drinkers only) is defined as the proportion of adult drinkers (15+ years) who have had at least 60 grams or more of pure alcohol on at least one occasion in the past 30 days. A consumption of 60 grams of pure alcohol corresponds approximately to 6 standard alcoholic drinks.