The Solomon Islands has been ranked 25th in the world for alcohol consumption in 2025.
Thats according to the latest data released by the World Population Review.
The global report, which measures alcohol consumption in litres of pure alcohol per person per year, places the Solomon Islands among countries with some of the highest drinking rates.
According to the data, Solomon Islanders consume an average of 10.4 litres of pure alcohol annually, with men averaging 16.4 litres and women 4.42 litres.
The ranking places the Solomon Islands ahead of countries like Morocco, Switzerland, and Canada, and just behind Rwanda, Fiji, and the United Arab Emirates — countries traditionally not associated with high alcohol use.
The report highlights a significant gender disparity in alcohol consumption, a trend consistent globally. In many countries, men consume up to three times more alcohol than women. This pattern is reflected in the Solomon Islands, where male consumption far exceeds that of females.
The top countries in the 2025 list include the United Kingdom (10.9 litres), Malawi (10.8 litres), and Lebanon (10.8 litres), showing that high alcohol consumption spans both developed and developing nations.
According to the World Population Review, variations in alcohol consumption rates are often shaped by local laws, cultural norms, availability, and economic conditions.
In some regions, alcohol use is socially accepted and integrated into daily life, while in others, religious or legal restrictions limit its availability.
For the Solomon Islands, the rising rank may reflect a growing accessibility to alcohol in both urban and rural communities, coupled with a lack of strict enforcement on age restrictions and public drinking.
A joint report published in 2016 by Save the Children and the Burnet Institute revealed alarming statistics about alcohol abuse and its consequences among young people in the Solomon Islands.
According to the study, over three-quarters of youth surveyed admitted that their alcohol use had caused relationship or social problems in the previous year.
More disturbingly, around 60 percent of both male and female participants agreed with the statement that “there are times when a woman deserves to be beaten” — a stark indicator of how deeply gender-based violence and harmful norms are embedded in society.
The findings were part of a first-of-its-kind study funded by the Australian Government, designed to investigate alcohol and substance use and the related social and health harms affecting Solomon Islands youth.
The research involved a comprehensive survey of 400 young people aged 15 to 24 across four provinces, alongside focus group discussions with young people and service providers. The results painted a worrying picture of how substance use is contributing to both interpersonal conflict and the normalization of violence against women in many communities.
As the country continues to develop, experts warn that without proactive steps, alcohol consumption rates may continue to rise — bringing with it a range of public health challenges.
The World Population Review’s data is based on figures compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO), and measures consumption from all alcohol sources, including beer, wine, spirits, and locally brewed drinks.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
