Share of adults who drank alcohol in last year in New Zealand

New Zealand: Share of adults who drank alcohol in last year was 80.3% in 2020. ▬ Flat

Latest (2020)
80.3%
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
5th
of 187 countries
All-time high
80.3%
in 2019
All-time low
78.7%
in 2001
Years of data
21
2000–2020

Share of adults who drank alcohol in last year in New Zealand, 2000–2020

0204060802000201020202000: 78.8 %2001: 78.7 %2002: 79.1 %2003: 79 %2004: 79.3 %2005: 79.4 %2006: 79.5 %2007: 79.5 %2008: 79.7 %2009: 79.5 %2010: 79.8 %2011: 79.7 %2012: 79.4 %2013: 79.6 %2014: 79.5 %2015: 79.3 %2016: 79.8 %2017: 80 %2018: 80.1 %2019: 80.3 %2020: 80.3 %

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

Analysis

In 2020, share of adults who drank alcohol in last year in New Zealand stood at 80.3%.

The figure is up 0.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of adults who drank alcohol in last year in New Zealand peaked at 80.3% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 78.7%, in 2001.

That places New Zealand 5th out of 187 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top 10%.

Share of adults who drank alcohol in last year in New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for Share of adults who drank alcohol in last year in New Zealand, 2000 to 2020.
Year % Change
2000 78.8%
2001 78.7% -0.1%
2002 79.1% +0.5%
2003 79.0% -0.1%
2004 79.3% +0.3%
2005 79.4% +0.2%
2006 79.5% +0.2%
2007 79.5% -0.1%
2008 79.7% +0.3%
2009 79.5% -0.2%
2010 79.8% +0.4%
2011 79.7% -0.1%
2012 79.4% -0.4%
2013 79.6% +0.2%
2014 79.5% -0.1%
2015 79.3% -0.3%
2016 79.8% +0.6%
2017 80.0% +0.3%
2018 80.1% +0.1%
2019 80.3% +0.3%
2020 80.3% -0.0%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 79.3% 78.7% 79.7% 10
2010s 79.7% 79.3% 80.3% 10
2020s 80.3% 80.3% 80.3% 1

Countries ranked near New Zealand

  1. 2 Ireland 83.2% compare
  2. 3 Andorra 82.5% compare
  3. 4 Australia 80.7% compare
  4. 6 Switzerland 80.0% compare
  5. 7 Austria 79.4% compare
  6. 8 Iceland 79.2% compare

See the full ranking of 187 places →

More reference data data for New Zealand

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of adults who drank alcohol in last year in New Zealand?
Share of adults who drank alcohol in last year in New Zealand was 80.3% 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 adults who drank alcohol in last year recorded in New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 80.3% in 2019.
What is the lowest share of adults who drank alcohol in last year recorded in New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 78.7% in 2001.
How does New Zealand rank for share of adults who drank alcohol in last year?
New Zealand ranks 5th out of 187 countries with data for 2020.
Is share of adults who drank alcohol in last year rising or falling in New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this New Zealand 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 adults who drank alcohol in last year. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of adults who drank alcohol in last year in New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 02 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/share-of-adults-who-drank-alcohol-in-last-year/new-zealand/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of adults who drank alcohol in last year
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

Adults are defined as those aged 15 years and older. Shown is the share of adults who have drunk any alcohol in the preceding 12 months.