TITLE:
A Survey of Alcohol Consumption in African Countries, 2019
AUTHORS:
Amadu Jacky Kaba
KEYWORDS:
Alcohol Consumption, African Countries, Age, Religion, Region, Gross Domestic Product: Wealth, Advertising: Tourism
JOURNAL NAME:
Sociology Mind,
Vol.15 No.5,
September
24,
2025
ABSTRACT: This study examines pure alcohol consumption in African countries. The study finds that overall, while there is a prevalence of alcohol consumption in African countries, the rates are not as high when compared to countries in Europe and North America. The highest rates of alcohol consumption per capita in Africa are found in countries in Southern, Eastern, and Middle Africa. The rates are very low in Northern and Western Africa. Nine of the top ten countries in Africa with the highest alcohol consumption rates are in these three regions: Seychelles, #1, Tanzania, #2, Eswatini, #3, Burkina Faso, #4 (Western Africa), South Africa, #5, Uganda, #6, Gabon, #7, Rwanda, #8, Equatorial Guinea, #9, and Angola, #10. Some of the reasons presented for the prevalence of alcohol consumption in African countries are as follows: increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP, purchasing power parity) of Africa (increasing from $2.366 trillion in 2005 to $8.624 trillion in 2023), and increase in the wealth of people in the continent; religion; secularism; age; and international tourism.