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

Japan: Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year was 32.5% in 2020. ▲ Rising

Latest (2020)
32.5%
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
148th
of 187 countries
All-time high
32.5%
in 2020
All-time low
29.2%
in 2000
Years of data
21
2000–2020

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

01020302000201020202000: 29.2 %2001: 30.3 %2002: 30.4 %2003: 30.6 %2004: 30.5 %2005: 30.1 %2006: 30.2 %2007: 30.8 %2008: 31.2 %2009: 31.4 %2010: 31.4 %2011: 31.4 %2012: 31.4 %2013: 31.3 %2014: 31.7 %2015: 31.7 %2016: 31.8 %2017: 31.8 %2018: 32 %2019: 32.1 %2020: 32.5 %

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 Japan is 32.5%, measured in 2020. That is the highest value across all 21 years on record.

That represents a change of up 1.1% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Japan peaked at 32.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 29.2%, in 2000.

Japan ranks 148th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 21 years of available data.

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

Annual values for Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Japan, 2000 to 2020.
Year % Change
2000 29.2% —
2001 30.3% +3.6%
2002 30.4% +0.5%
2003 30.6% +0.5%
2004 30.5% -0.3%
2005 30.1% -1.2%
2006 30.2% +0.2%
2007 30.8% +2.1%
2008 31.2% +1.1%
2009 31.4% +0.8%
2010 31.4% +0.0%
2011 31.4% -0.1%
2012 31.4% -0.0%
2013 31.3% -0.1%
2014 31.7% +1.3%
2015 31.7% -0.2%
2016 31.8% +0.5%
2017 31.8% +0.0%
2018 32.0% +0.5%
2019 32.1% +0.4%
2020 32.5% +1.1%

Japan compared with similar countries

  • Japan's 32.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 28.7%, 1.1× the median. (60 countries reporting)
  • Japan's 32.5% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 63.0%, 52% of the median. (28 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 30.5% 29.2% 31.4% 10
2010s 31.7% 31.3% 32.1% 10
2020s 32.5% 32.5% 32.5% 1

Countries ranked near Japan

  1. 145 Bulgaria 34.2% compare
  2. 146 Ukraine 33.9% compare
  3. 147 Uruguay 32.6% compare
  4. 149 Croatia 32.5% compare
  5. 150 Canada 30.8% compare
  6. 151 Moldova 30.8% compare

See the full ranking of 187 places →

More reference data data for Japan

All data for Japan →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Japan?
Share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year in Japan was 32.5% 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 Japan?
The highest recorded value was 32.5% in 2020.
What is the lowest share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year recorded in Japan?
The lowest recorded value was 29.2% in 2000.
How does Japan rank for share of adults who have not drunk alcohol in the last year?
Japan ranks 148th 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 Japan?
Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Japan 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 Japan. 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/japan/

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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.