Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in China
China: Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year was 39.7% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in China, 2000–2020
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 China stood at 39.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.4% on the previous year and up 3.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in China peaked at 46.4% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 34.4%, in 2016.
China ranks 139th of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 44.6% | — |
| 2001 | 45.3% | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 45.9% | +1.2% |
| 2003 | 46.4% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 46.4% | -0.2% |
| 2005 | 45.8% | -1.2% |
| 2006 | 44.7% | -2.3% |
| 2007 | 43.0% | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 41.9% | -2.5% |
| 2009 | 40.4% | -3.8% |
| 2010 | 38.3% | -5.2% |
| 2011 | 36.7% | -4.1% |
| 2012 | 35.6% | -3.0% |
| 2013 | 35.0% | -1.7% |
| 2014 | 34.8% | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 34.6% | -0.6% |
| 2016 | 34.4% | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 35.6% | +3.2% |
| 2018 | 38.0% | +7.0% |
| 2019 | 38.8% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 39.7% | +2.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 39.7% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 55.3%, 72% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- China's 39.7% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 63.0%, 63% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 44.4% | 40.4% | 46.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 36.2% | 34.4% | 38.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 39.7% | 39.7% | 39.7% | 1 |
Countries ranked near China
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in China?
- Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in China was 39.7% 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 China?
- The highest recorded value was 46.4% in 2003.
- What is the lowest share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.4% in 2016.
- How does China rank for share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year?
- China ranks 139th 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 China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China 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.