China Tops Global Beer Market Again as World Drinks Record 194bn Litres in 2024, Czechia Still No.1 Per Capita

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Global beer consumption climbed to a historic high of 194.1 billion litres in 2024, reaffirming beer’s status as one of the world’s most popular alcoholic beverages, according to fresh data from Kirin Holdings.

The figures, highlighted in a recent Visual Capitalist ranking based on Kirin’s Global Beer Consumption Report, show that while per-capita drinking often grabs headlines, total beer consumption tells a far broader story—one shaped by population size, economic growth, and changing consumer habits.
China retained its position as the world’s largest beer market by a wide margin, consuming 40.5 billion litres in 2024. This represents 20.9 per cent of total global demand, meaning nearly one in every five beers consumed worldwide was drunk in China.

Despite its dominance, China’s beer consumption declined by 3.7 per cent year-on-year, reflecting economic caution and shifting preferences among consumers. Still, no other country came close to matching its sheer volume.

The United States ranked second with 22.3 billion litres, accounting for 11.5 per cent of global consumption. Like China, the US recorded a slight decline of 0.5 per cent, continuing a long-term trend toward moderation and the growing popularity of alternative beverages such as spirits, hard seltzers, and non-alcoholic drinks.

Brazil placed third globally with 15.3 billion litres, posting modest growth of 1.1 per cent, while Mexico delivered one of the strongest performances among major markets. Mexico’s consumption rose by 5.4 per cent to 10.8 billion litres, cementing its position as the world’s fourth-largest beer market.

Russia followed closely with 9.5 billion litres after recording a robust 9.0 per cent increase. Germany remained Europe’s largest beer market at 7.2 billion litres, despite a 2.2 per cent decline.

Africa continued to feature prominently in global rankings, with South Africa consuming 4.6 billion litres—up 4.5 per cent—to rank seventh worldwide. Vietnam matched South Africa at 4.6 billion litres, while the United Kingdom, Spain, and Japan rounded out the top 11.

India emerged as the fastest-growing major beer market in 2024. Consumption surged by 14.6 per cent to 3.4 billion litres, driven by rising incomes, rapid urbanisation, and a young population increasingly embracing beer as a social drink. Mexico and Russia also stood out as high-growth markets, posting gains of 5.4 per cent and 9.0 per cent respectively.

While China dominates total volume, Czechia once again claimed the title for the world’s highest per-capita beer consumption. The Central European nation led the rankings for the 32nd consecutive year, with beer intake nearing 150 litres per person annually, underscoring its deep-rooted beer culture despite a modest decline in overall consumption.

European countries continue to dominate per-capita rankings, accounting for 25 of the 35 highest beer-consuming nations by individual intake. However, trends across the continent remain mixed. Germany and Spain recorded declines, while countries such as the United Kingdom, Italy, and Romania posted mild growth.

Analysts say the latest data highlights a clear contrast between mature and emerging markets. While beer consumption is flattening or declining in several traditional strongholds, rapid growth in populous countries such as India, alongside gains in parts of Africa and Latin America, is driving global volumes higher.

With the world drinking more beer than ever before, experts believe future growth will increasingly depend on emerging economies—where population expansion, rising middle classes, and evolving lifestyles continue to keep global beer taps flowing.