Global beer consumption exceeded 185 million kiloliters in 2021, enough to fill more than 74,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. So, which countries drink the most beer?
Countries Ranked
Every region in the world increased its overall beer consumption in 2021 compared to 2020, with global consumption rising by 4%. Asia holds a 31% share of the global beer market, remaining the world’s largest beer-consuming region over the last 14 years.
| Rank | Country | Total Consumption (thousand kl) | Market Share |
| 1 | China | 38,093 | 20.5% |
| 2 | U.S. | 24,170 | 13.0% |
| 3 | Brazil | 14,540 | 7.8% |
| 4 | Russia | 8,937 | 4.8% |
| 5 | Mexico | 8,660 | 4.7% |
| 6 | Germany | 7,584 | 4.1% |
| 7 | United Kingdom | 4,608 | 2.5% |
| 8 | Japan | 4,188 | 2.3% |
| 9 | Vietnam | 4,159 | 2.2% |
| 10 | Spain | 4,131 | 2.2% |
China was the largest beer-consuming country for the 19th consecutive year. The tradition of brewing and enjoying beer in China spans approximately nine millennia. Recent archaeological discoveries have revealed that as far back as 7000 BC, ancient Chinese communities were engaged in producing beer-like alcoholic beverages, primarily on a small and localized basis.
Consumption Per Capita
When examining per capita beer consumption, Asia falls behind Europe. In fact, nine of the top 10 consumers of beer per capita are European nations. The Czech Republic remains the leader in per capita beer drinking for the 29th year. In 2021, the average Czech drank more than 184 liters of beer.
| Rank | Country | Per Capita Beer Consumption (volume in liters) | Total Consumption (thousand kl) |
| 1 | Czech Republic | 184.1 | 1,969 |
| 2 | Austria | 98.7 | 888 |
| 3 | Lithuania | 96.3 | 260 |
| 4 | Romania | 95.6 | 1,826 |
| 5 | Poland | 94.1 | 3,557 |
| 6 | Estonia | 91.4 | 119 |
| 7 | Germany | 90.4 | 7,584 |
| 8 | Spain | 88.5 | 4,131 |
| 9 | Namibia | 85.7 | 223 |
| 10 | Croatia | 82.4 | 338 |
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Source: Visualcapitalist
