In this article, we are going to discuss the 20 countries that drink the most beer per capita. You can skip our detailed analysis of the global beer market, the largest beer producer in the world, and the current state of the American beer market, and go directly to 5 Countries that Drink the Most Beer per Capita.
The first solid proof of brewed beer comes from the age of the Sumerians, around 6,000 years ago. Archaeologists also found an ode to Ninkasi, the Mesopotamian patron goddess of beer. Then the ancient Egyptians perfected the art of brewing and worshiped Tjenenet, the Egyptian goddess of brewing.
Although these ancient goddesses are no longer revered in the modern world, their legacy has withstood the sands of time. Beer is still the most widely consumed alcoholic beverage in the world and the third-most popular drink overall, right after water and tea.
Global Beer Market:
According to the Barth Haas Report, the global brewing industry recovered partially from the devastating effects of the pandemic and reported a global production of 1.86 billion hectolitres in 2021, a 4% increase from the previous year. However, the market is yet to return to its pre-pandemic levels, when production peaked at 1.91 billion hectolitres in 2019.
According to Fortune Business Insights, the global beer market was valued at $793.74 billion last year and is projected to grow from $821.39 billion in 2023 to $1.07 trillion by 2030, with a CAGR of 3.88% during the forecast period.
Largest Beer Producer in the World:
The brewing behemoth Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) is the largest beer producer in the world, with 518 million hectolitres of volume produced in 2022. Formed by the $52 billion acquisition of Anheuser-Busch by InBev in 2008, the company boasts over 630 beer brands in 150 countries worldwide. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) had a revenue of $57.7 billion in 2022 and a net income of almost $6 billion. BUD shares haven’t gone anywhere in recent years, and it lost around 40% of its value over the last 5 years. It is a highly levered company and the rising interest rates isn’t helping the stock either. Nevertheless, billionaire Bill Gates’ portfolio managers decided to initiate a $96 million position in Anheuser-Busch InBev during the second quarter.
Broyhill Asset Management said the following about Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) in its second quarter 2023 investor letter:
“The largest detractors to performance over the quarter were First Horizon Corp (FHN), Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD), and Bayer (BAYRY). Problems at Anheuser Busch InBev began on April 1 with Dylan Mulvaney’s social media post, which ignited a fiery backlash amongst Bud Light customers across ‘Merica. With volumes down sharply, and competitors gaining share at BUD’s expense, operational deleveraging is set to weigh heavily on US margins amid peak demand pressure in the second quarter. Despite severe US headwinds (second-quarter operating profit maybe half of last year’s levels), we still expect BUD to grow consolidated operating profit at a mid-single-digit rate for the full year. With current issues well understood and investor sentiment in the gutters, we see significant upside in a stock, which is approaching a double-digit FCF yield. With FX headwinds and rising input costs reversing course, increasing margins are likely to drive positive surprises into FY24 as continued deleveraging accrues more value to shareholders.”
Current State of the American Beer Market:
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) is now struggling in the United States after a conservative-led boycott of its brand Bud Light, leaving other brands in the company’s portfolio to pick up the slack. Earlier this month, the beer giant reported a sharp decline in its U.S. sales and profit “primarily due to the volume decline in Bud Light”. The company reported that its revenue in the U.S. market during the last quarter fell more than 10% compared to 2022, while operating profit dropped nearly 30%.
Sales of other beer brands of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD), in other countries, helped bolster its results though. The total reported revenue of the company for the last quarter went up by just over 7%, with an increase of 5% in profits, thus beating the expectations of analysts.
The Mexican import beer brand Modelo Especial dethroned Bud Light as America’s best-selling beer in June. Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) – which owns the Modelo Group in the American market – reported a 7.5% growth in beer volumes in its most recent quarter, compared to a year earlier. Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) will be looking to display strength as it nears its next earnings release. In the upcoming quarterly report, analysts expect the company to post earnings of $3.34 per share, marking a YoY growth of 5.36%.
Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP), which owns Coors Light and Miller Lite brands, also reported record quarterly sales and a big jump in profits this month. Gavin Hattersley – chief executive of the Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) – told analysts that in the 2nd quarter last year, Bud Light sold more than Coors Light and Miller Lite combined. While in the same quarter this year, Coors and Miller Lite racked up 50% more in sales than the Bud Light brand.
With that said, here are the Countries with the Highest Beer Consumption per Capita.
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Methodology:
To collect data for this article, we have referred to the Global Beer Consumption Report by Kirin Holdings, looking for Countries that Drink the Most Beer per Capita. The report is based on findings obtained from questionnaires sent by Kirin Holdings to various brewers’ associations around the world, as well as the latest industry statistics available overseas.
If you’re a fan of craft brews, here are the Best Craft Beer Brands in Each U.S. State.
20. Slovenia
Beer Consumption per Capita: 69.2L
Despite its small size, Slovenia has a very strong and rich brewing industry, in which small boutique, nomadic, and other breweries dominate. Slovenes love their beer, as the beverage is the most popular alcoholic drink in the country.
The two most popular brands of Slovenian beer, now united under the ownership of Heineken N.V., are Laško and Union.
19. Australia
Beer Consumption per Capita: 71.6L
Australia has a very large variety of beer styles to choose from. IRI Australia, a market research company, has revealed the biggest selling beers at liquor retailers in 2022, with Great Northern coming first for the second year in a row, ahead of Carlton Dry in second place, and XXXX in third.
18. Croatia
Beer Consumption per Capita: 72.2L
From light lagers to hoppy IPAs and rich stouts, Croatian beers cater to every taste preference. The two most popular Croatian beers are Ožujsko and Karlovačko.
Ožujsko is the flagship brand produced by Zagrebačka pivovara – the biggest brewery in the country – which is a part of the Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) since 2013.
17. United States of America
Beer Consumption per Capita: 72.8L
America’s beer industry has been flourishing for a few decades now and there were 9,709 breweries operating in the country in 2022 – the highest figures ever in history. The U.S. had a total beer consumption of 24.1 million kiloliters in 2020.
Modelo Especial, owned by Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ), is currently the Top-Selling Beer in America.
16. Bulgaria
Beer Consumption per Capita: 76L
Beer was introduced in Bulgaria by foreigners in the 19th century and until then the Balkan nation was mainly a rakia and wine drinking country. Most of the Bulgarian breweries are currently owned by foreign companies, such as Heineken N.V. and Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP).
15. Latvia
Beer Consumption per Capita: 77.4L
Beer is by far the most popular alcoholic beverage in Latvia, and the locals’ love of the good stuff means they create some exceptional varieties too. Owned by the Carlsberg Group, Aldaris is a popular beer brand in the Baltic country.
Latvia ranks 15th in our List of Countries Drinkinking the Most Beer per Capita.
14. Finland
Beer Consumption per Capita: 77.8L
Over the past few years, beer culture has become increasingly popular in Finland, which has resulted in a booming craft beer industry in the country. Finns consume the highest amount of beer per capita in any of the Nordic countries.
Finland ranks among Countries with Highest Rates of Alcoholism.
13. Congo
Beer Consumption per Capita: 79L
Congolese love their beer and there is no shortage of it anywhere in the country. Primus beer, owned by Heineken N.V., is a national institution and its 750 ml bottles can be bought cheaply at small bars and restaurants across the nation. Heineken N.V. has invested around $560 million in its Bralima breweries in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the last decade.
12. Gabon
Beer Consumption per Capita: 80.9L
Drinking is an extremely popular pastime in the Central African country, particularly in rural areas, and it’s often easier to find a bar than something to eat. Régab is the national beer of Gabon, brewed by the only brewing company of the country since 1966.
11. Spain
Beer Consumption per Capita: 81.5L
Spain ranks second in the European Union in terms of beer production, with 41.1 million hectoliters. There are three main companies that account for most of the brewing in the country – Heineken N.V., Mahou San-Miguel, and Damm. These companies collectively boast a market share of 80% in Spain.
10. Republic of Ireland
Beer Consumption per Capita: 81.6L
When it comes to beer, Ireland has a rich brewing history that can be traced back more than 300 years. The country has also produced Guinness, one of the Most Consumed Beer Brands in the World. The famous Irish black stout accounts for over 25% of the beer sales across the Emerald Isles.
The brewing industry in the Republic of Ireland has witnessed a 22% increase in the number of microbreweries since 2014, and its total output now stands at 8.3 million hectoliters.
9. Slovakia
Beer Consumption per Capita: 81.7L
Beer may not be the national drink of Slovakia – that honor belongs to borovička, a juniper spirit – but it might as well be. Zlatý Bažant, an old beer brand now owned by Heineken N.V., is a popular name in the country but there is more to Slovakian brews than just the major brands.
Slovakia’s craft beer industry is burgeoning and today there are nearly 70 microbreweries – or mini-breweries, as Slovakians like to call them – in the country.
Slovakia is among the top 10 countries that drink the most beer per capita.
8. Lithuania
Beer Consumption per Capita: 84.1L
Local beers in Lithuania have started to attract international attention after beer bloggers discovered the country, inspiring a major feature article in Beer Connoisseur magazine, which then prompted the New York Times to list the Baltic nation as one of the 42 top places to visit on the strength of its village beers.
7. Namibia
Beer Consumption per Capita: 84.8L
Namibia is famous for a number of things: its fantastic scenery, incredible wildlife, and its award-winning beer. Heineken N.V. has completed the acquisition of Distill and Namibia Breweries this year, in a deal that combines them to create a new business arm called Heineken Beverages.
6. Estonia
Beer Consumption per Capita: 86.4L
The Estonian beer market is one of the few in Europe to be showing healthy annual growth, and per capita beer consumption in the Baltic country increased by about 7%, as compared to the previous year.
Estonia ranks 6th among countries that drink the most beer per person.
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Disclosure: None. 20 Countries that Drink the Most Beer per Capita is originally published on Insider Monkey.