Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Belgium

Belgium: Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year was 23.2% in 2020. ▬ Flat

Latest (2020)
23.2%
Change on year
up 4.0%
World rank
171st
of 187 countries
All-time high
23.2%
in 2020
All-time low
21.6%
in 2014
Years of data
21
2000–2020

Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Belgium, 2000–2020

05101520252000201020202000: 22.5 %2001: 22.7 %2002: 22.3 %2003: 22.5 %2004: 22.5 %2005: 22.5 %2006: 22.3 %2007: 22.4 %2008: 21.8 %2009: 22.2 %2010: 22 %2011: 22 %2012: 22 %2013: 21.8 %2014: 21.6 %2015: 21.7 %2016: 22.3 %2017: 22.3 %2018: 22.3 %2019: 22.3 %2020: 23.2 %

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 have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Belgium stood at 23.2%. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.0% on the previous year and up 5.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Belgium peaked at 23.2% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 21.6%, in 2014.

Belgium ranks 171st of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Belgium, year by year

Annual values for Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Belgium, 2000 to 2020.
Year % Change
2000 22.5% —
2001 22.7% +0.5%
2002 22.3% -1.5%
2003 22.5% +0.7%
2004 22.5% +0.1%
2005 22.5% +0.1%
2006 22.3% -0.7%
2007 22.4% +0.4%
2008 21.8% -2.6%
2009 22.2% +1.9%
2010 22.0% -1.3%
2011 22.0% +0.3%
2012 22.0% -0.0%
2013 21.8% -1.1%
2014 21.6% -1.0%
2015 21.7% +0.6%
2016 22.3% +2.9%
2017 22.3% +0.1%
2018 22.3% -0.2%
2019 22.3% -0.0%
2020 23.2% +4.0%

Belgium compared with similar countries

  • Belgium's 23.2% is below the median for high income countries, which is 28.7%, 81% of the median. (60 countries reporting)
  • Belgium's 23.2% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 26.8%, 87% of the median. (47 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 22.4% 21.8% 22.7% 10
2010s 22.0% 21.6% 22.3% 10
2020s 23.2% 23.2% 23.2% 1

Countries ranked near Belgium

  1. 168 France 24.0% compare
  2. 169 Portugal 23.8% compare
  3. 170 Spain 23.4% compare
  4. 172 Netherlands 23.1% compare
  5. 173 Malta 22.7% compare
  6. 174 Sweden 22.5% compare

See the full ranking of 187 places →

More reference data data for Belgium

All data for Belgium →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Belgium?
Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Belgium was 23.2% 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 adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year recorded in Belgium?
The highest recorded value was 23.2% in 2020.
What is the lowest share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year recorded in Belgium?
The lowest recorded value was 21.6% in 2014.
How does Belgium rank for share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year?
Belgium ranks 171st 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 Belgium?
Over the last ten years it is up 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Belgium 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.

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Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Belgium. 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/share-who-have-not-drank-alcohol-in-last-year/belgium/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the 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 not drunk any alcohol in the preceding 12 months.