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

Canada: Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year was 30.8% in 2020. ▬ Flat

Latest (2020)
30.8%
Change on year
up 0.8%
World rank
150th
of 187 countries
All-time high
31.6%
in 2000
All-time low
30.1%
in 2008
Years of data
21
2000–2020

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

01020302000201020202000: 31.6 %2001: 31.4 %2002: 31.4 %2003: 31.2 %2004: 31 %2005: 30.7 %2006: 30.3 %2007: 30.1 %2008: 30.1 %2009: 30.2 %2010: 30.1 %2011: 30.2 %2012: 30.2 %2013: 30.2 %2014: 30.3 %2015: 30.6 %2016: 30.4 %2017: 30.4 %2018: 30.3 %2019: 30.6 %2020: 30.8 %

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 have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Canada is 30.8%, measured in 2020.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and up 2.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Canada peaked at 31.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 30.1%, in 2008.

That places Canada 150th out of 187 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.

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

Annual values for Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Canada, 2000 to 2020.
Year % Change
2000 31.6% —
2001 31.4% -0.5%
2002 31.4% -0.2%
2003 31.2% -0.6%
2004 31.0% -0.5%
2005 30.7% -1.2%
2006 30.3% -1.1%
2007 30.1% -0.7%
2008 30.1% -0.1%
2009 30.2% +0.4%
2010 30.1% -0.2%
2011 30.2% +0.4%
2012 30.2% +0.0%
2013 30.2% -0.1%
2014 30.3% +0.3%
2015 30.6% +1.1%
2016 30.4% -0.7%
2017 30.4% -0.1%
2018 30.3% -0.1%
2019 30.6% +0.8%
2020 30.8% +0.8%

Canada compared with similar countries

  • Canada's 30.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 28.7%, 1.1× the median. (60 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 30.8% 30.1% 31.6% 10
2010s 30.3% 30.1% 30.6% 10
2020s 30.8% 30.8% 30.8% 1

Countries ranked near Canada

  1. 147 Uruguay 32.6% compare
  2. 148 Japan 32.5% compare
  3. 149 Croatia 32.5% compare
  4. 151 Moldova 30.8% compare
  5. 152 Belarus 30.7% compare
  6. 153 Greece 30.7% compare

See the full ranking of 187 places →

More reference data data for Canada

All data for Canada →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Canada?
Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Canada was 30.8% 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 Canada?
The highest recorded value was 31.6% in 2000.
What is the lowest share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year recorded in Canada?
The lowest recorded value was 30.1% in 2008.
How does Canada rank for share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year?
Canada ranks 150th 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 Canada?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Canada 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 Canada. 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/canada/

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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.