Share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in India
India: Share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days was 39.0% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in India, 2000–2020
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2020, share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in India stood at 39.0%.
The figure is down 2.6% on the previous year and down 4.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in India peaked at 41.1% in 2011 and was at its lowest, 37.2%, in 2000.
India ranks 100th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 38.4% | 37.2% | 40.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.6% | 40.1% | 41.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.0% | 39.0% | 39.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near India
More reference data data for India
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Frequently asked questions
- What is share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in India?
- Share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in India was 39.0% 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 41.1% in 2011.
- What is the lowest share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 37.2% in 2000.
- How does India rank for share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days?
- India ranks 100th 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 India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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
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.