The world’s top beer-consuming countries

Can you guess which country drinks the most beer per capita?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has researched and published details of which countries consume the most alcohol per capita.

This information has also been broken down into beer, wines, spirits and overall alcohol consumption.

In publishing the report the WHO said its aim was to, “support Member States in collecting information in order to assist them in their efforts to reduce the harmful use of alcohol, and its health and social consequences.”

Dr Ala Alwan, WHO assistant director-general for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, added: “Many countries recognise the serious public health problems caused by the harmful use of alcohol and have taken steps to prevent the health and social burdens and treat those in need of care. But clearly much more needs to be done to reduce the loss of life and suffering associated with harmful alcohol use.”

But which countries consume the most beer? We’re pretty confident you’ll be surprised at who comes out on top.

10. Estonia

Coming in at number 10 on the WHO’s list is Estonia, where the 1.2m population enjoys an average of 5.53 litres per capita, per year.

9. Lithuania

Lithuania has a population of around 3.2m, is the largest of the three Baltic states and in 1990 became the first Soviet republic to declare independence. Listed by the UN as a “Very High Human Development” country, Lithuania sits ninth in the beer consuming countries, on 5.60 litres per capita, per year.

8. Germany

With a population of 81m, it is quite striking that Germany is so high on this list. The Germans knock back an average of 6.22 litres of beer per capita, per year according to the WHO.

7. Uganda

Uganda is the highest placed country from the African mainland on the WHO’s list and is the world’s seventh largest consumer of beer per capita. The 35m population drinks an average 6.51 litres per year.

6. Austria

Austria’s population of 8.47m people consumes an annual average of 6.70 litres per capita.

5. Azerbaijan

It is thought that at least 90% of Azerbaijan’s 9m population are muslim, so it is perhaps surprising to see them feature so highly on the WHO’s list. Apparently the country consumes 7.00 litres of beer per capita, per year.

4. Ireland

It’s a safe bet that the WHO has included stout within the beer category, which is why Ireland features in fourth place on the list of beer consumers, knocking back 7.04 litres per capita, per year.

3. Seychelles

The 115 islands that make up the Republic of Seychelles are home to just under 90,000 people. Those who are aged over 15 are obviously fans of beer as they drink 7.15 litres per year, putting them third on the WHO’s list.

2. Czech Republic

According to the WHO the Czech Republic’s 10.5m population each consume 8.51 litres per year, making it the world’s second largest per capita consumer of beer.

1. Palau

Palau is an island country in the western Pacific Ocean, made up of around 250 islands and with a population of just 21,000. The country is ranked top in the WHO’s list of countries by beer consumption, with 8.68 litres per capita, per year in adults aged 15 or over.

So where did Britain come? Keep on looking to find out some more surprising results.

15. Great Britain

Britain comes in 15th on the WHO list, with an annual per capita beer consumption of 4.93 litres.

22. Australia

The stereotype of Australians enjoying a beer on the beach or with the barbecue seems to be false, with a 4.56 litre annual beer consumption, per capita.

24. United States of America

The US and its population of 314.5m people comes in 24th on the WHO’s list of beer consuming countries, drinking an average of 4.47 per capita, per year.