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

France: Share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days was 35.0% in 2020. ▼ Falling

Latest (2020)
35.0%
Change on year
down 2.3%
World rank
125th
of 187 countries
All-time high
41.7%
in 2000
All-time low
35.0%
in 2020
Years of data
21
2000–2020

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

0102030402000201020202000: 41.7 %2001: 41.3 %2002: 40.8 %2003: 40.2 %2004: 39.6 %2005: 39.1 %2006: 38.9 %2007: 38.5 %2008: 38 %2009: 37.7 %2010: 37.2 %2011: 37.1 %2012: 36.9 %2013: 36.5 %2014: 36.6 %2015: 36.3 %2016: 36.2 %2017: 36.1 %2018: 35.8 %2019: 35.9 %2020: 35 %

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 France is 35.0%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.3% on the previous year and down 5.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in France peaked at 41.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 35.0%, in 2020.

That places France 125th out of 187 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.

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

Share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in France, year by year

Annual values for Share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in France, 2000 to 2020.
Year % Change
2000 41.7% —
2001 41.3% -0.9%
2002 40.8% -1.3%
2003 40.2% -1.5%
2004 39.6% -1.3%
2005 39.1% -1.2%
2006 38.9% -0.6%
2007 38.5% -1.0%
2008 38.0% -1.4%
2009 37.7% -0.7%
2010 37.2% -1.2%
2011 37.1% -0.2%
2012 36.9% -0.6%
2013 36.5% -1.0%
2014 36.6% +0.1%
2015 36.3% -0.7%
2016 36.2% -0.4%
2017 36.1% -0.3%
2018 35.8% -0.9%
2019 35.9% +0.3%
2020 35.0% -2.3%

France compared with similar countries

  • France's 35.0% is below the median for high income countries, which is 38.1%, 92% of the median. (60 countries reporting)
  • France's 35.0% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 36.1%, 97% of the median. (47 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 39.6% 37.7% 41.7% 10
2010s 36.5% 35.8% 37.2% 10
2020s 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% 1

Countries ranked near France

  1. 122 Myanmar 35.6% compare
  2. 123 Brazil 35.2% compare
  3. 124 Venezuela 35.1% compare
  4. 126 Lithuania 34.9% compare
  5. 127 Latvia 34.8% compare
  6. 128 Guyana 34.7% compare

See the full ranking of 187 places →

More reference data data for France

All data for France →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in France?
Share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in France was 35.0% 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 France?
The highest recorded value was 41.7% in 2000.
What is the lowest share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days recorded in France?
The lowest recorded value was 35.0% in 2020.
How does France rank for share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days?
France ranks 125th 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 France?
Over the last ten years it is down 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this France 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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Share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in France. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 29 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/drinkers-had-a-heavy-session-in-past-30-days/france/

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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.