Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Australia
Australia: Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year was 19.3% in 2020. ▬ Flat
Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Australia, 2000–2020
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Australia recorded 19.3% for share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.0% on the previous year and up 0.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Australia peaked at 20.5% in 2001 and was at its lowest, 19.0%, in 2009.
Australia ranks 184th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Australia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 20.0% | — |
| 2001 | 20.5% | +2.3% |
| 2002 | 20.2% | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 20.0% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 20.1% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 19.7% | -2.0% |
| 2006 | 19.6% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 19.3% | -1.5% |
| 2008 | 19.1% | -0.9% |
| 2009 | 19.0% | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 19.2% | +0.9% |
| 2011 | 19.2% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 19.4% | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 19.2% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 19.3% | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 19.6% | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 19.5% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 19.7% | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 19.6% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 19.5% | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 19.3% | -1.0% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 19.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 28.7%, 67% of the median. (60 countries reporting)
- Australia's 19.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 63.0%, 31% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 19.7% | 19.0% | 20.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.4% | 19.2% | 19.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.3% | 19.3% | 19.3% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Australia
- 181 Austria 20.6% compare
- 182 Switzerland 20.0% compare
- 183 New Zealand 19.7% compare
- 185 Andorra 17.5% compare
- 186 Ireland 16.8% compare
- 187 Luxembourg 15.8% compare
More reference data data for Australia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 28.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 118.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 170.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 13.9 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Australia?
- Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Australia was 19.3% 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 have not drunk alcohol in the last year recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 20.5% in 2001.
- What is the lowest share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 19.0% in 2009.
- How does Australia rank for share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year?
- Australia ranks 184th out of 187 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Australia 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 have not drunk alcohol in the last year. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Adults are defined as those aged 15 years and older. Shown is the share of adults who have not drunk any alcohol in the preceding 12 months.