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

Sri Lanka: Share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days was 32.2% in 2020. ▬ Flat

Latest (2020)
32.2%
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
140th
of 187 countries
All-time high
33.6%
in 2012
All-time low
31.3%
in 2004
Years of data
21
2000–2020

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

01020302000201020202000: 32 %2001: 32.7 %2002: 32.1 %2003: 32.3 %2004: 31.3 %2005: 32.6 %2006: 32.4 %2007: 33.1 %2008: 32.4 %2009: 32.2 %2010: 32.7 %2011: 33.4 %2012: 33.6 %2013: 32.9 %2014: 32.3 %2015: 32.8 %2016: 32.5 %2017: 32.3 %2018: 32.1 %2019: 32 %2020: 32.2 %

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 Sri Lanka is 32.2%, measured in 2020.

That represents a change of up 0.5% on the previous year and down 1.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in Sri Lanka peaked at 33.6% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 31.3%, in 2004.

Sri Lanka ranks 140th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

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

Annual values for Share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in Sri Lanka, 2000 to 2020.
Year % Change
2000 32.0% —
2001 32.7% +2.3%
2002 32.1% -1.8%
2003 32.3% +0.5%
2004 31.3% -3.0%
2005 32.6% +4.1%
2006 32.4% -0.7%
2007 33.1% +2.3%
2008 32.4% -2.0%
2009 32.2% -0.8%
2010 32.7% +1.7%
2011 33.4% +2.0%
2012 33.6% +0.7%
2013 32.9% -2.0%
2014 32.3% -1.8%
2015 32.8% +1.5%
2016 32.5% -0.9%
2017 32.3% -0.8%
2018 32.1% -0.4%
2019 32.0% -0.3%
2020 32.2% +0.5%

Sri Lanka compared with similar countries

  • Sri Lanka's 32.2% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 40.3%, 80% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
  • Sri Lanka's 32.2% is below the median for South Asia, which is 32.8%, 98% of the median. (6 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 32.3% 31.3% 33.1% 10
2010s 32.7% 32.0% 33.6% 10
2020s 32.2% 32.2% 32.2% 1

Countries ranked near Sri Lanka

  1. 137 Niger 32.7% compare
  2. 138 Comoros 32.4% compare
  3. 139 Turkmenistan 32.2% compare
  4. 141 Paraguay 32.2% compare
  5. 142 Greece 32.0% compare
  6. 143 Kazakhstan 32.0% compare

See the full ranking of 187 places →

More reference data data for Sri Lanka

All data for Sri Lanka →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in Sri Lanka?
Share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days in Sri Lanka was 32.2% 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 Sri Lanka?
The highest recorded value was 33.6% in 2012.
What is the lowest share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days recorded in Sri Lanka?
The lowest recorded value was 31.3% in 2004.
How does Sri Lanka rank for share of drinkers who have had a heavy drinking session in past 30 days?
Sri Lanka ranks 140th 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 Sri Lanka?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka. 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/sri-lanka/

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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.