The beer industry is one of the largest in the world with over $500 billion in GDP contribution.
Though highly localized, the beer industry is globally interconnected, ranging from major manufacturers like Brazil and China to exporters of barley and hops like France and Argentina.
The domestic market where beer is sold actually produces 89% of the supplies used in the beer industry.
Here are the countries drink the most beer.
The table above illustrates how China, the US, and Brazil—the three countries that drink beer the most—make up more than 40% of the world’s total consumption.
China comes in first, where it has remained for the past 20 years. Furthermore, China is the global leader in the production of beer. There were 7,000 new beer-related businesses that entered the market in 2023 alone.
In China, 90% of the beer market is made up of domestic brands, with Tsingtao and Snow Beer being the two biggest competitors. With sales expected to reach $124 billion in 2024, the beer market is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the world. China consumes twice as much beer as America, which comes in second. As of 2022, Modelo Especial has surpassed Bud Light as the best-selling beer.
The United States comes in second, drinking about half as much beer as China. In 2022, Bud Light was the most popular beer, but Modelo Especial has since surpassed it in sales. Domestic beer accounts for the greatest portion of the $116.9 billion US beer market in 2023, accounting for 63.6% of the total. Imported beer comes in second at 23.2%, and craft beer comes in third at 13.3%.
Brazil comes next, accounting for 7.8% of the world’s beer consumption. The Brazilian beer market is expected to bring in $49,3 billion by 2024. Brahma, a popular pale lager, is the most valuable beer brand in the country.
