Share of adults who drank alcohol in last year in United States
United States: Share of adults who drank alcohol in last year was 71.1% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Share of adults who drank alcohol in last year in United States, 2000–2020
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 adults who drank alcohol in last year in United States is 71.1%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and up 1.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of adults who drank alcohol in last year in United States peaked at 71.1% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 69.1%, in 2000.
That places United States 32nd out of 187 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the top quarter.
Share of adults who drank alcohol in last year in United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 69.1% | — |
| 2001 | 69.2% | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 69.3% | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 69.5% | +0.3% |
| 2004 | 69.8% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 70.0% | +0.4% |
| 2006 | 70.3% | +0.3% |
| 2007 | 70.5% | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 70.5% | -0.0% |
| 2009 | 70.2% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 70.2% | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 70.4% | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 70.6% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 70.6% | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 70.7% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 70.7% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 70.8% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 70.9% | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 71.0% | +0.2% |
| 2019 | 71.1% | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 71.1% | +0.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 69.8% | 69.1% | 70.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 70.7% | 70.2% | 71.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.1% | 71.1% | 71.1% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United States
More reference data data for United States
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 19.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 24.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 20.7 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 119.42 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 64.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 52.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 133.45 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 589.96 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 112.69 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of adults who drank alcohol in last year in United States?
- Share of adults who drank alcohol in last year in United States was 71.1% 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 United States?
- The highest recorded value was 71.1% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of adults who drank alcohol in last year recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.1% in 2000.
- How does United States rank for share of adults who drank alcohol in last year?
- United States ranks 32nd out of 187 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of adults who drank alcohol in last year rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this United States 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 21 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
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.