Prevalence of tobacco use

Part of a series on
Tobacco
History History of tobacco
Chemistry Tobacco Smoke
Biology Nicotiana (Nicotiana tabacum) Nicotine Tobacco diseases Types
Personal and social effects Health effects Prevalence of consumption Marketing Art Tobacco and other drugs Control Religious views Politics Smoking Tobacconist
Production Cultivation Curing Industry Products
v t e

Prevalence of tobacco use is reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), which focuses on cigarette smoking due to reported data limitations.^[1] Smoking has therefore been studied more extensively than any other form of consumption.^[2]

Smoking is globally five times more prevalent among men than women;^[3][4] however, the gender gap is smaller in rich countries and in younger age groups.^[5][6] In developed countries smoking rates for men have peaked and have begun to decline, and also started to stall or decline for women.^[7] Smoking prevalence has changed little since the mid-1990s, before which time it declined in English-speaking countries due to the implementation of tobacco control. However, the number of smokers worldwide has increased from 721 million in 1980 to 967 million in 2012 and the number of cigarettes smoked increased from 4.96 trillion to 6.25 trillion due to population growth.^[8]

In Western countries, smoking is more prevalent among populations with mental health problems, with alcohol and drug problems, among criminals, and among the homeless.^[9] In 2002, about 20% of young teens (aged 13–15) smoked worldwide. 80,000 to 100,000 children begin smoking every day. Half of those who begin smoking in adolescent years are projected to go on to smoke for 15 to 20 years.^[10]

One of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goal 3 of the United Nations (to be achieved by 2030) is to "Strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries, as appropriate." The indicator that is used to measure progress is the prevalence of tobacco use.^[11]

WHO states that "Much of the disease burden and premature mortality attributable to tobacco use disproportionately affect the poor". Of the 1.22 billion smokers, 1 billion of them live in developing or transitional economies. Rates of smoking have leveled off or declined in the developed world.^[12] In the developing world, tobacco consumption is rising by 3.4% per year as of 2002.^[10]

The WHO in 2004 projected 58.8 million deaths to occur globally, from which 5.4 million are tobacco-attributed, and 4.9 million as of 2007.^[13] As of 2002, 70% of the deaths are in developing countries.^[13]

One of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goal 3 of the United Nations (to be achieved by 2030) is to "Strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries, as appropriate." The indicator that is used to measure progress is the "age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged 15 years and older".^[14]

Prevalence of tobacco use (% of adults) worldwide^[15]

Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.

The following is a list of countries by the percentage of age-standardized prevalence of tobacco use (including products such as snus) among persons 15 years and older as published by the World Health Organization.^[16]

Click at right to show/hide list of countries

Country 2000 2020  Afghanistan 36.9 23.3  Albania 35 22.4  Algeria 22.2 21  Andorra 35.9 31.8  Argentina 34 24.5  Armenia 32 25.5  Australia 24.4 13.6  Austria 52.3 26.4  Azerbaijan 28.7 24  Bahamas 10.7 10.6  Bahrain 22.2 14.9  Bangladesh 57.6 34.7  Barbados 10.2 8.5  Belarus 41.8 30.5  Belgium 33.4 23.4  Belize 15 8.5  Benin 16.7 6.9  Bolivia 32.1 12.7  Bosnia and Herzegovina 46.6 35  Botswana 33.2 19.4  Brazil 23.8 12.8  Brunei 16.7 16.2  Bulgaria 47.5 39  Burkina Faso 29.8 14.3  Burundi 24 11.8  Cape Verde 20.6 11.4  Cambodia 42.3 21.1  Cameroon 12.8 7.3  Canada 28.4 13  Chad 13.9 8.3  Chile 46.9 29.2  China 26.7 25.6  Colombia 15.1 8.5  Comoros 39.5 20.3  Congo 11.9 14.5  Cook Islands 44.3 24  Costa Rica 18 8.8  Ivory Coast 18.7 9.4  Croatia 34.4 36.9  Cuba 40.8 17.9  Cyprus 40.9 35.1  Czech Republic 34.2 30.7  Denmark 37.3 17.5  Dominican Republic 18.7 10.6  DR Congo 18.8 12.8  Ecuador 18.4 11.3  Egypt 24.3 24.3  El Salvador 15.9 7.9  Eritrea 13.3 7.5  Estonia 46 29.7  Eswatini 12.3 9.2  Ethiopia 6.8 5.1  Fiji 32.3 23.1  Finland 35.7 21.6  France 34.2 33.4  Gambia 22.5 11.1  Georgia 32.8 31.7  Germany 36.4 22  Ghana 7 3.5  Greece 54.9 33.5  Guatemala 14.3 10.9  Guinea-Bissau 18 9  Guyana 30.2 12.1  Haiti 12.3 7.7  Hungary 37.4 31.8  Iceland 30.2 12  India 54.5 27.2  Indonesia 35.4 37.6  Iran 21.5 13.6  Iraq 22 18.5  Ireland 35.6 20.8  Israel 31.7 21.2  Italy 26.2 23.1  Jamaica 17.4 9.4  Japan 33.3 20.1  Jordan 30.7 34.8  Kazakhstan 34.2 23.2  Kenya 19.3 11.1  Kiribati 68.5 40.6  Kuwait 20 17.9  Kyrgyzstan 31.4 25.4  Laos 52.5 31.8  Latvia 43.8 37  Lebanon 40.2 38.2  Lesotho 31.1 24.3  Liberia 16.3 8.2  Lithuania 41.4 32  Luxembourg 31 21.1  Madagascar 46.7 27.8  Malawi 24.1 10.8  Malaysia 29.5 22.5  Maldives 38.3 25.2  Mali 16.3 8.3  Malta 34.3 24  Marshall Islands 28.5 28.5  Mauritania 21.3 10.7  Mauritius 25.5 20.2  Mexico 24 13.1  Moldova 25.3 29  Mongolia 34.1 29.4  Montenegro 38.7 31.4  Morocco 22.5 14.5  Mozambique 29.4 14.3  Myanmar 66.9 44.1  Namibia 25.6 15.1  Nauru 63.4 48.5    Nepal 64.5 30.4  Netherlands 34.3 22.2  New Zealand 29.6 13.7  Niger 9.7 7.4  Nigeria 9.3 3.7  North Korea 19.8 18.8  Norway 44 16.2  Oman 7.6 8  Pakistan 37.5 20.2  Palau 26.1 17.6  Panama 13.4 5  Papua New Guinea 54.1 39.3  Paraguay 29.1 11.5  Peru 32.9 8.1  Philippines 34.9 22.9  Poland 39.6 24  Portugal 25.7 25.4  Qatar 13.5 11.8  Romania 35 28  Russia 33.3 26.8  Rwanda 24.8 13.7  Samoa 39 25.3  São Tomé and Príncipe 7.8 5.7  Saudi Arabia 14.2 14.3  Senegal 14.3 6.9  Serbia 45.1 39.8  Seychelles 28.7 20.2  Sierra Leone 43.7 13.5  Singapore 16.4 16.5  Slovakia 32 31.5  Slovenia 25.1 22  Solomon Islands 43.5 36.5  South Africa 23.5 20.3  South Korea 28.5 17.4  Spain 36.8 27.7  Sri Lanka 28.5 22  Sweden 43.8 24   Switzerland 28.3 25.5  Tanzania 27.8 8.7  Thailand 31.7 22.1  East Timor 53.5 39.2  Togo 14.4 6.8  Tonga 33.5 31  Tunisia 34.3 24.6  Turkey 32.9 30.7  Turkmenistan 12 5.5  Tuvalu 48.8 35.6  Uganda 24.7 8.4  Ukraine 37.7 25.8  United Arab Emirates 19.4 18.2  United Kingdom 37.9 15.4  United States 33.8 23  Uruguay 35.3 21.5  Uzbekistan 24.9 17.6  Vanuatu 25.6 17.8  Vietnam 29.8 24.8  Yemen 27.3 20.3  Zambia 19.9 14.4  Zimbabwe 21 11.7

In the 20th century, smoking was common. There were social events like the smoke night which promoted the habit. In Australia the prevalence of smoking is in decline, with figures from the 2011-12 Australian Health Survey showing 18% of the population to be current smokers,^[21] a decline from 28% in 1989–90.^[22]

Among the indigenous population, the rate was much higher: 50% of men and 44% of women reported being current smokers in 2007–08.^[23]

People aged 25 to 34 were the most likely to smoke (24%), with a marked decline in smoking rates as age increased past 45 years in 2011–12.^[21]

In 2007–08, the prevalence of smoking was strongly associated with socioeconomic disadvantage: a greater proportion of men (33%) and women (26%) who live in the most disadvantaged 20% of areas were current smokers than those who live in the least disadvantaged 20% of areas (12% and 11% respectively).^[22]

In 2016 the daily smoking rate was less than 13%.^[24] By 2022, this number had fallen to 10.6% in Australian adults.^[25]

In December 2002, Statistics Canada published a report on smoking prevalence from 1985 to 2001. In that report they found from 1985 to 1991, prevalence of "current smoking" (which they defined as daily smokers and occasional smokers) declined overall, for both sexes and all age groups except for those aged 15 to 24. Even larger declines occurred from 1991 to 2001. While current smoking prevalence for youths did not significantly change from 1985 to 1994–1995, there was a significant decrease of 6 percentage points from 1994–1995 to 2001 (from 28.5% to 22.5%). Provincially, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, experienced most of their declines in current smoking prevalence from 1994 to 1995 onwards. All of the provinces experienced some level of declines over the entire 1985 to 2001 period. Declines in daily smoking prevalence occurred for both sexes and all age groups over the entire 17-year time span, although youth smoking did not start significantly declining until the mid-1990s. Overall, for daily cigarette consumption, smokers by 2001 had a significantly lower proportion of smoking 26 or more cigarettes daily compared with 1985 (14.0% to 5.8%). Most of the declines in the different sex or age groups occurred after 1991. At the same time, smokers in 2001 had a higher proportion of smoking 1 to 10 cigarettes daily compared with 1985 (18.6% to 31.1%). Most of the decline occurred after 1991.^[26] As of 2008 the rate was estimated to be 18%, and declining.^[27] A 2011 survey estimates that 17% of Canadians smoke.^[28]

In 2005, 27% of the population admitted to being current smokers. 23% were daily smokers (28% of men and 19% of women,) while 4% smoked occasionally. The highest ratio of daily smokers was in the 20-24 age group: 38% of men and 30% of women.^[29] According to a 2010 study by University of Bielefeld, 9.9% of all 15-year-old males and 10.8% of 15-year-old females smoked daily, which showed a strong decline during the previous decade.^[30]

As in other industrial countries the prevalence of smoking in Germany is lower among people with higher education level.

A 2006 a comparative study found that 25.1% of male and 20.6% of female medical students in Göttingen smoked, while in London the percentages were only 10.9% and 9.1%.^[31]

Germany had the largest number of cigarette vending machines per capita in the world: 1 per 102.5 people.^[32]

In Israel,^[33] smoking prevalence among males had remained relatively constant at 30% in the years 1994–2004.^[34] Among females the prevalence has declined slightly from 25% in 1998 to 18% in 2003.^[34] For the youth, 14% smoked at least once per week, according to a 2001 publication.^[35]

In 2005, research has shown that Israeli youths have begun to use bidis and hookah, as alternative methods of tobacco use.^[34] In 1990, smoking was the cause of about 1,800 male deaths in Israel which was around 12% of all male deaths.^[36] Smoking has not been found to be significant cause of death among Israeli women.^[36] The average number of cigarettes smoked per Israeli stands at 2162 (6).^[34]

There are several anti-tobacco use legislations in effect. For instance, advertising is prohibited in youth publications and is forbidden on television and radio,^[36] in addition to substantial increases in tobacco taxes, although the prices are still among the lowest compared to all of the European countries.^[36] In addition, until 2004, there was no minimum age requirement for buying tobacco products in Israel;^[37] however, an amendment to the tobacco marketing and advertisement law that became effective at 2004 has limited the sale of tobacco to people above the age of 18.^[38]

According to Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, the smoking rate in the Israeli adult population in 2009 was 20.9%, down from 34% in 2000.^[39] A Ministry of Health nationwide survey conducted in 2011 found that 20.6% of the population aged 21 and older were smokers.^[40] The highest percentage of smokers was among Arab males, 44% percent of whom smoked, though this figure is down from 50% in 1996.

Tobacco consumption in New Zealand peaked in the mid-1970s when 60% of the population were smokers. By 2011 that number had fallen to 20% of the population, thanks to stringent tobacco control laws which are amongst the world's strictest. However, despite these laws, the number of smokers appears to be increasing as the global economy worsens and a recent spate of natural disasters have seen an increase in tobacco sales and although more males smoke than females, this gap is slowly narrowing. Tobacco consumption by Maori remains disproportionately high despite having decreased over recent years thanks to television, internet, radio and print media anti-smoking advertising aimed at Maori. The high rate of Maori tobacco consumption has been described by many Maori health advocates and academics as a "cultural genocide".

According to the Romanian Ministry of Health, the smoking rate among the general population declined from 36% in 2004 to 26% in 2011.^[41] A report commissioned in 2012 revealed that 34.9% of men smoked daily, compared to 14.5% of women, and in the preceding 12 months, 37.8% of regular smokers had attempted to quit at least once.^[42] Despite a general decline in smoking prevalence, the rate among women nearly doubled from 1991 to 2011, with 55% of women smokers belonging to the 15–34 age group.^[43]

According to the 2017 National Health Survey ^[44] 22.1% of the population above the age of 15 reports smoking daily, 2.3% declares smoking occasionally, 24.9% reports being ex-smokers and 50.7% never smoked. The survey also revealed that 25.6% of men smoked, compared to 18.8% women. The historical data series shows the rate in Spain has fallen more than 10 points from 1993 to 2017, from 44% to 25.6% for men and from 20.8% to 18.8% for women. However, since 2014, the trend has slowed, with just less than 1 point improvement, from 23% to 22.1%.

The first research of smoking in Sweden was performed in 1946; it showed that 50% of men, and 9% of women were smokers. In 1977 41% of men and 32% of women were smokers.^[46] By 2011, the use of smoking tobacco on a daily basis had decreased to only 12.5% among men and 14.3% among women. The use of snus, on a daily basis among men older than 15 years, was approximately 19.4% and only 3.0% for women.^[45]

The Health Survey for England in 2002 found a smoking rate of 26%. By 2007 the proportion of adult smokers in England had declined four percentage points to 22%.^[47] In 2015, it was reported smoking rates in England had fallen to 16.9%, a record low.^[48] The rate in England had fallen to 14.4% in 2018.^[49]

Overall, the numbers of smokers in the UK in 2007 was estimated at 13.7 million.^[50] In 2007 the rate of smoking amongst the most socioeconomically affluent patients was 14%, compared to 34% for the most deprived.^[50] Figures from 2013 show that proportion of the British population (UK excluding Northern Ireland) who smoke has fallen to 19%.^[51]

In 2005 23.9% of men and 18.1% of women were current smokers. Among racial and ethnic groups, Native Americans and Alaska Natives had the highest prevalence at 32.0%, followed by non-Hispanic whites at 21.9%, and non-Hispanic blacks at 21.5%. Hispanics at 16.2%, and Asians at 13.3% had the lowest rates. Based on education level, the highest percentage of smokers among adults had those who earned a General Educational Development (GED) diploma at 43.2% and those with 9–11 years of education at 32.6%. The prevalence of tobacco use was generally lower among those with higher education levels. Adults aged 18–24 years were at 24.4% and 25–44 years were at 24.1%, which were the highest prevalence indicators. The prevalence of current smoking was higher among adults living below the poverty line at 29.9% than among those at or above the poverty line at 20.6%.^[53]

In November 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted in their report, "The percentage of U.S. adults who smoke cigarettes declined from 20.9 percent in 2005 to 16.8 percent in 2014. Cigarette smoking was significantly lower in 2014 (16.8 percent) than in 2013 (17.8 percent)." The CDC concluded this from data obtained by a survey of Americans. However, researchers said that they are not sure if products like e-cigarettes are in any way helpful to reduce smoking in the country. Around 4,000 minors start smoking in the US every day.^[54]

As of 2022, a total of 11.2% of U.S. adults (11.7% of men and 10.8% of women) smoke.^[55]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Smoking.

• WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2009: Surveys of adult tobacco use in WHO Member States
• "The Global Burden of Disease 2004 Update" (PDF). World Health Organization. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
• "WHO REPORT on the global TOBACCO epidemic" (PDF). World Health Organization. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 7, 2009. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
• Smoking Proves Hard to Shake Among the Poor