We’ve previously mapped the world according to cannabis, alcohol and cigarette consumption, here – ahead of a new two-part ITV documentary on the drug, presented by the chef Gordon Ramsay – we’re looking at cocaine.
The map below shows the world according to prevalence of cocaine use as a percentage of the population, according to the most recent statistics available on the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime website. Those countries or territories that appear in darker colours consume the most cocaine, those in lighter colours consume the least (there is no data available for those nations in grey). The data corresponds to a variety of reporting years, so does not offer a perfect comparison, but gives a good indication of the nations that have the biggest appetite for cocaine.
Britain is among the world’s biggest users of the drug. The figure given for the UK of 2.25 per cent refers to consumption in England and Wales by those aged 16-59, as recorded in the 2015/16 Crime Survey for England and Wales. Government sources report that cocaine use is slightly higher in Scotland – around 2.34 per cent as of 2014/15, while in Northern Ireland it’s lower – 1.8 per cent.
Topping the table is Albania. Public health research from 2014 estimates that 2.5 per cent of its population aged between 16 and 64 use the drug.

At a glance | The 20 biggest cocaine consuming countries

1. Albania – 2.5 per cent of the population uses it
2. Scotland – 2.34
3. United States – 2.3
4. England and Wales – 2.25
5. Spain – 2.2
6. Australia – 2.1
7. Uruguay – 1.8
8. Chile – 1.73
9. Netherlands – 1.6
10. Ireland – 1.5
11. Canada – 1.46
12. Aruba – 1.3
13. Bermuda – 1.3
14. Ghana – 1.1
15. Italy – 1.1
16. France – 1.1
17. Israel – 1.07
18. Iceland – 1.06
19. Costa Rica – 1.06
20. Luxembourg – 1.04

Telegraph.co.uk