Introduction
Smoking rates around the world exhibit significant variations, reflecting a complex interplay of cultural, economic, and regulatory factors that shape tobacco consumption. Despite progress in tobacco control efforts, smoking remains a global public health concern with diverse patterns observed across countries.
Certain countries stand out for their alarmingly high smoking rates. Nauru takes the lead with a staggering 48.50% of its population engaging in smoking habits. Myanmar, Serbia, Papua New Guinea, and East Timor also face high smoking rates, exceeding 35%. These countries grapple with the challenge of addressing tobacco addiction and mitigating the associated health risks.
Regional disparities in smoking rates are evident, with some regions reporting higher prevalence rates compared to others. Eastern European countries like Bulgaria, Greece, and Russia have historically exhibited higher smoking rates, influenced by cultural norms, social acceptance, and ties to tobacco production.
Conversely, there are countries that have successfully achieved relatively low smoking rates, indicating the efficacy of tobacco control measures. For instance, Ghana and Nigeria report smoking rates as low as 3.5% and 3.7%, respectively.
Tobacco control measures play a pivotal role in reducing smoking rates globally. Countries have implemented various strategies, including restrictions on tobacco advertising, higher taxation on tobacco products, smoke-free policies, and the implementation of graphic warning labels on cigarette packaging. These multifaceted approaches aim to discourage smoking initiation, promote cessation, and protect non-smokers from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
Rate of Smoking by Country
| # | Country | Smoking Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nauru | 48.5% |
| 2 | Myanmar | 44.1% |
| 3 | Serbia | 39.8% |
| 4 | Papua New Guinea | 39.3% |
| 5 | East Timor | 39.2% |
| 6 | Bulgaria | 39% |
| 7 | Lebanon | 38.2% |
| 8 | Indonesia | 37.6% |
| 9 | Latvia | 37% |
| 10 | Croatia | 36.9% |
| 11 | Solomon Islands | 36.5% |
| 12 | Cyprus | 35.1% |
| 13 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 35% |
| 14 | Jordan | 34.8% |
| 15 | Bangladesh | 34.7% |
| 16 | Greece | 33.5% |
| 17 | France | 33.4% |
| 18 | Lithuania | 32% |
| 19 | Andorra | 31.8% |
| 20 | Hungary | 31.8% |
| 21 | Laos | 31.8% |
| 22 | Georgia | 31.7% |
| 23 | Slovakia | 31.5% |
| 24 | Montenegro | 31.4% |
| 25 | Czech Republic | 30.7% |
| 26 | Turkey | 30.7% |
| 27 | Belarus | 30.5% |
| 28 | Nepal | 30.4% |
| 29 | Estonia | 29.7% |
| 30 | Mongolia | 29.4% |
| 31 | Chile | 29.2% |
| 32 | Moldova | 29% |
| 33 | Marshall Islands | 28.5% |
| 34 | Romania | 28% |
| 35 | Madagascar | 27.8% |
| 36 | Spain | 27.7% |
| 37 | India | 27.2% |
| 38 | Russia | 26.8% |
| 39 | Austria | 26.4% |
| 40 | Ukraine | 25.8% |
| 41 | People's Republic of China | 25.6% |
| 42 | Armenia | 25.5% |
| 43 | Switzerland | 25.5% |
| 44 | Kyrgyzstan | 25.4% |
| 45 | Portugal | 25.4% |
| 46 | Maldives | 25.2% |
| 47 | Vietnam | 24.8% |
| 48 | Tunisia | 24.6% |
| 49 | Argentina | 24.5% |
| 50 | Egypt | 24.3% |
| 51 | Lesotho | 24.3% |
| 52 | Azerbaijan | 24% |
| 53 | Malta | 24% |
| 54 | Poland | 24% |
| 55 | Sweden | 24% |
| 56 | Belgium | 23.4% |
| 57 | Afghanistan | 23.3% |
| 58 | Kazakhstan | 23.2% |
| 59 | Fiji | 23.1% |
| 60 | Italy | 23.1% |
| 61 | United States of America | 23% |
| 62 | Philippines | 22.9% |
| 63 | Malaysia | 22.5% |
| 64 | Albania | 22.4% |
| 65 | Netherlands | 22.2% |
| 66 | Thailand | 22.1% |
| 67 | Germany | 22% |
| 68 | Slovenia | 22% |
| 69 | Sri Lanka | 22% |
| 70 | Finland | 21.6% |
| 71 | Uruguay | 21.5% |
| 72 | Israel | 21.2% |
| 73 | Cambodia | 21.1% |
| 74 | Luxembourg | 21.1% |
| 75 | Algeria | 21% |
| 76 | Ireland | 20.8% |
| 77 | South Korea | 20.8% |
| 78 | Comoros | 20.3% |
| 79 | South Africa | 20.3% |
| 80 | Yemen | 20.3% |
| 81 | Mauritius | 20.2% |
| 82 | Pakistan | 20.2% |
| 83 | Seychelles | 20.2% |
| 84 | Japan | 20.1% |
| 85 | Botswana | 19.4% |
| 86 | Iraq | 18.5% |
| 87 | Cuba | 17.9% |
| 88 | Kuwait | 17.9% |
| 89 | Vanuatu | 17.8% |
| 90 | Palau | 17.6% |
| 91 | Uzbekistan | 17.6% |
| 92 | Denmark | 17.5% |
| 93 | North Korea | 17.4% |
| 94 | Singapore | 16.5% |
| 95 | Brunei | 16.2% |
| 96 | Norway | 16.2% |
| 97 | United Kingdom | 15.4% |
| 98 | Namibia | 15.1% |
| 99 | Bahrain | 14.9% |
| 100 | Morocco | 14.5% |
| 101 | Republic of the Congo | 14.5% |
| 102 | Zambia | 14.4% |
| 103 | Burkina Faso | 14.3% |
| 104 | Mozambique | 14.3% |
| 105 | Saudi Arabia | 14.3% |
| 106 | New Zealand | 13.7% |
| 107 | Rwanda | 13.7% |
| 108 | Australia | 13.6% |
| 109 | Iran | 13.6% |
| 110 | Sierra Leone | 13.5% |
| 111 | Mexico | 13.1% |
| 112 | Canada | 13% |
| 113 | Brazil | 12.8% |
| 114 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 12.8% |
| 115 | Bolivia | 12.7% |
| 116 | Guyana | 12.1% |
| 117 | Iceland | 12% |
| 118 | Burundi | 11.8% |
| 119 | Qatar | 11.8% |
| 120 | Zimbabwe | 11.7% |
| 121 | Paraguay | 11.5% |
| 122 | Ecuador | 11.3% |
| 123 | Kenya | 11.1% |
| 124 | The Gambia | 11.1% |
| 125 | Guatemala | 10.9% |
| 126 | Malawi | 10.8% |
| 127 | Mauritania | 10.7% |
| 128 | Dominican Republic | 10.6% |
| 129 | The Bahamas | 10.6% |
| 130 | Ivory Coast | 9.4% |
| 131 | Jamaica | 9.4% |
| 132 | Eswatini | 9.2% |
| 133 | Guinea-Bissau | 9% |
| 134 | Costa Rica | 8.8% |
| 135 | Tanzania | 8.7% |
| 136 | Barbados | 8.5% |
| 137 | Belize | 8.5% |
| 138 | Colombia | 8.5% |
| 139 | Uganda | 8.4% |
| 140 | Chad | 8.3% |
| 141 | Mali | 8.3% |
| 142 | Liberia | 8.2% |
| 143 | Peru | 8.1% |
| 144 | Oman | 8% |
| 145 | El Salvador | 7.9% |
| 146 | Haiti | 7.7% |
| 147 | Eritrea | 7.5% |
| 148 | Niger | 7.4% |
| 149 | Cameroon | 7.3% |
| 150 | Benin | 6.9% |
| 151 | Senegal | 6.9% |
| 152 | Togo | 6.8% |
| 153 | São Tomé and Príncipe | 5.7% |
| 154 | Turkmenistan | 5.5% |
| 155 | Ethiopia | 5.1% |
| 156 | Panama | 5% |
| 157 | Nigeria | 3.7% |
| 158 | Ghana | 3.5% |
Countries With the Most Smokers
Among the countries with the highest number of smokers, ten nations stand out for their significant smoking rates and rankings: Nauru, Myanmar, Serbia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, Bulgaria, Lebanon, Indonesia, Latvia, and Croatia. Nauru holds the highest position, with a smoking rate of 48.50%, ranking first among countries with the most smokers. Myanmar follows closely with a smoking rate of 44.10%, ranking second country with the most smokers. Serbia ranks third with a smoking rate of 39.80%, while Papua New Guinea takes the fourth spot with a smoking rate of 39.30%. East Timor ranks fifth with a smoking rate of 39.20%, followed by Bulgaria at sixth place with a rate of 39%. Lebanon secures the seventh position with a smoking rate of 38.20%. Indonesia ranks eighth with a smoking rate of 37.60%, while Latvia stands at ninth place with a rate of 37%. Croatia completes the top ten countries with the most smokers, ranking tenth with a smoking rate of 36.90%.
The top 10 countries with the highest percentage of smokers are :
1. Nauru – 48.50%
2. Myanmar – 44.10%
3. Serbia – 39.80%
4. Papua New Guinea – 39.30%
5. East Timor – 39.20%
6. Bulgaria – 39%
7. Lebanon – 38.20%
8. Indonesia – 37.60%
9. Latvia – 37%
10. Croatia – 36.90%
Country With the Most Smokers
Nauru, a small island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, holds the dubious distinction of having the highest smoking rate in the world. With an alarming smoking rate of 48.50%, almost half of Nauru’s population engages in smoking. This staggering prevalence places Nauru at the top of the list among countries with the most smokers. Despite its small size, Nauru faces significant challenges in addressing tobacco addiction and reducing the associated health risks posed by smoking.
Smoking Rate by Country
Afghanistan
Smoking Population
23.3%
Ranked in the World
#57
Albania
Smoking Population
22.4%
Ranked in the World
#64
Algeria
Smoking Population
21%
Ranked in the World
#75
Andorra
Smoking Population
31.8%
Ranked in the World
#19
Andorra holds the nineteenth position for countries that smoke the most, with a smoking rate of 31.80%.
Argentina
Smoking Population
24.5%
Ranked in the World
#49
Armenia
Smoking Population
25.5%
Ranked in the World
#42
Australia
Smoking Population
13.6%
Ranked in the World
#108
Austria
Smoking Population
26.4%
Ranked in the World
#39
Azerbaijan
Smoking Population
24%
Ranked in the World
#52
Bahrain
Smoking Population
14.9%
Ranked in the World
#99
Bangladesh
Smoking Population
34.7%
Ranked in the World
#15
Bangladesh is placed fifteenth with a smoking rate of 34.70% among countries with the highest smoking rates.
Barbados
Smoking Population
8.5%
Ranked in the World
#136
Belarus
Smoking Population
30.5%
Ranked in the World
#27
Belgium
Smoking Population
23.4%
Ranked in the World
#56
Belize
Smoking Population
8.5%
Ranked in the World
#137
Benin
Smoking Population
6.9%
Ranked in the World
#150
Bolivia
Smoking Population
12.7%
Ranked in the World
#115
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Smoking Population
35%
Ranked in the World
#13
Bosnia and Herzegovina hold the thirteenth position, with a smoking rate of 35% among countries with the highest smoking rates.
Botswana
Smoking Population
19.4%
Ranked in the World
#85
Brazil
Smoking Population
12.8%
Ranked in the World
#113
Brunei
Smoking Population
16.2%
Ranked in the World
#95
Bulgaria
Smoking Population
39%
Ranked in the World
#6
Bulgaria ranks as the sixth country with the most smokers, with a smoking rate of 39%.
Burkina Faso
Smoking Population
14.3%
Ranked in the World
#103
Burundi
Smoking Population
11.8%
Ranked in the World
#118
Cambodia
Smoking Population
21.1%
Ranked in the World
#73
Cameroon
Smoking Population
7.3%
Ranked in the World
#149
Canada
Smoking Population
13%
Ranked in the World
#112
Chad
Smoking Population
8.3%
Ranked in the World
#140
Chile
Smoking Population
29.2%
Ranked in the World
#31
Colombia
Smoking Population
8.5%
Ranked in the World
#138
Comoros
Smoking Population
20.3%
Ranked in the World
#78
Costa Rica
Smoking Population
8.8%
Ranked in the World
#134
Croatia
Smoking Population
36.9%
Ranked in the World
#10
Croatia holds the tenth position, with a smoking rate of 36.90% among countries with the highest smoking rates.
Cuba
Smoking Population
17.9%
Ranked in the World
#87
Cyprus
Smoking Population
35.1%
Ranked in the World
#12
Cyprus is placed twelfth among the countries that smoke the most, with a smoking rate of 35.10%.
Czech Republic
Smoking Population
30.7%
Ranked in the World
#25
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Smoking Population
12.8%
Ranked in the World
#114
Denmark
Smoking Population
17.5%
Ranked in the World
#92
Dominican Republic
Smoking Population
10.6%
Ranked in the World
#128
East Timor
Smoking Population
39.2%
Ranked in the World
#5
East Timor rounds out the top five for most smoking countries, where 39.20% of the population is identified as smokers.
Ecuador
Smoking Population
11.3%
Ranked in the World
#122
Egypt
Smoking Population
24.3%
Ranked in the World
#50
El Salvador
Smoking Population
7.9%
Ranked in the World
#145
Eritrea
Smoking Population
7.5%
Ranked in the World
#147
Estonia
Smoking Population
29.7%
Ranked in the World
#29
Eswatini
Smoking Population
9.2%
Ranked in the World
#132
Ethiopia
Smoking Population
5.1%
Ranked in the World
#155
Fiji
Smoking Population
23.1%
Ranked in the World
#59
Finland
Smoking Population
21.6%
Ranked in the World
#70
France
Smoking Population
33.4%
Ranked in the World
#17
France ranks seventeenth with a smoking rate of 33.40% among countries with the most smokers.
Georgia
Smoking Population
31.7%
Ranked in the World
#22
Germany
Smoking Population
22%
Ranked in the World
#67
Ghana
Smoking Population
3.5%
Ranked in the World
#158
Greece
Smoking Population
33.5%
Ranked in the World
#16
Greece holds the sixteenth position for countries with the highest smoking rates, with a smoking rate of 33.50%.
Guatemala
Smoking Population
10.9%
Ranked in the World
#125
Guinea-Bissau
Smoking Population
9%
Ranked in the World
#133
Guyana
Smoking Population
12.1%
Ranked in the World
#116
Haiti
Smoking Population
7.7%
Ranked in the World
#146
Hungary
Smoking Population
31.8%
Ranked in the World
#20
Hungary ranks twentieth with a smoking rate of 31.80% among countries with the highest smoking rates.
Iceland
Smoking Population
12%
Ranked in the World
#117
India
Smoking Population
27.2%
Ranked in the World
#37
Indonesia
Smoking Population
37.6%
Ranked in the World
#8
Indonesia ranks eighth with a smoking rate of 37.60% among countries with the most smokers.
Iran
Smoking Population
13.6%
Ranked in the World
#109
Iraq
Smoking Population
18.5%
Ranked in the World
#86
Ireland
Smoking Population
20.8%
Ranked in the World
#76
Israel
Smoking Population
21.2%
Ranked in the World
#72
Italy
Smoking Population
23.1%
Ranked in the World
#60
Ivory Coast
Smoking Population
9.4%
Ranked in the World
#130
Jamaica
Smoking Population
9.4%
Ranked in the World
#131
Japan
Smoking Population
20.1%
Ranked in the World
#84
Jordan
Smoking Population
34.8%
Ranked in the World
#14
Jordan ranks fourteenth country with the highest smoking rate, with a smoking rate of 34.80%.
Kazakhstan
Smoking Population
23.2%
Ranked in the World
#58
Kenya
Smoking Population
11.1%
Ranked in the World
#123
Kuwait
Smoking Population
17.9%
Ranked in the World
#88
Kyrgyzstan
Smoking Population
25.4%
Ranked in the World
#44
Laos
Smoking Population
31.8%
Ranked in the World
#21
Latvia
Smoking Population
37%
Ranked in the World
#9
Latvia is placed ninth among the countries that smoke the most, with a smoking rate of 37%.
Lebanon
Smoking Population
38.2%
Ranked in the World
#7
Lebanon holds the seventh position with a smoking rate of 38.20% among countries with the highest smoking rates.
Lesotho
Smoking Population
24.3%
Ranked in the World
#51
Liberia
Smoking Population
8.2%
Ranked in the World
#142
Lithuania
Smoking Population
32%
Ranked in the World
#18
Lithuania is placed eighteenth with a smoking rate of 32% among countries with the highest smoking rates.
Luxembourg
Smoking Population
21.1%
Ranked in the World
#74
Madagascar
Smoking Population
27.8%
Ranked in the World
#35
Malawi
Smoking Population
10.8%
Ranked in the World
#126
Malaysia
Smoking Population
22.5%
Ranked in the World
#63
Maldives
Smoking Population
25.2%
Ranked in the World
#46
Mali
Smoking Population
8.3%
Ranked in the World
#141
Malta
Smoking Population
24%
Ranked in the World
#53
Marshall Islands
Smoking Population
28.5%
Ranked in the World
#33
Mauritania
Smoking Population
10.7%
Ranked in the World
#127
Mauritius
Smoking Population
20.2%
Ranked in the World
#81
Mexico
Smoking Population
13.1%
Ranked in the World
#111
Moldova
Smoking Population
29%
Ranked in the World
#32
Mongolia
Smoking Population
29.4%
Ranked in the World
#30
Montenegro
Smoking Population
31.4%
Ranked in the World
#24
Morocco
Smoking Population
14.5%
Ranked in the World
#100
Mozambique
Smoking Population
14.3%
Ranked in the World
#104
Myanmar
Smoking Population
44.1%
Ranked in the World
#2
Myanmar ranks second among the top smoking countries, with a significant portion of the population, accounting for 44.10%, being smokers.
Namibia
Smoking Population
15.1%
Ranked in the World
#98
Nauru
Smoking Population
48.5%
Ranked in the World
#1
Nauru takes the lead with the highest smoking population, with nearly half of its population (48.50%) engaged in smoking.
Nepal
Smoking Population
30.4%
Ranked in the World
#28
Netherlands
Smoking Population
22.2%
Ranked in the World
#65
New Zealand
Smoking Population
13.7%
Ranked in the World
#106
Niger
Smoking Population
7.4%
Ranked in the World
#148
Nigeria
Smoking Population
3.7%
Ranked in the World
#157
North Korea
Smoking Population
17.4%
Ranked in the World
#93
Norway
Smoking Population
16.2%
Ranked in the World
#96
Oman
Smoking Population
8%
Ranked in the World
#144
Pakistan
Smoking Population
20.2%
Ranked in the World
#82
Palau
Smoking Population
17.6%
Ranked in the World
#90
Panama
Smoking Population
5%
Ranked in the World
#156
Papua New Guinea
Smoking Population
39.3%
Ranked in the World
#4
With a smoking population of 39.30%, Papua New Guinea secures the fourth position in the ranking for most smoking countries.
Paraguay
Smoking Population
11.5%
Ranked in the World
#121
People's Republic of China
Smoking Population
25.6%
Ranked in the World
#41
Peru
Smoking Population
8.1%
Ranked in the World
#143
Philippines
Smoking Population
22.9%
Ranked in the World
#62
Poland
Smoking Population
24%
Ranked in the World
#54
Portugal
Smoking Population
25.4%
Ranked in the World
#45
Qatar
Smoking Population
11.8%
Ranked in the World
#119
Republic of the Congo
Smoking Population
14.5%
Ranked in the World
#101
Romania
Smoking Population
28%
Ranked in the World
#34
Russia
Smoking Population
26.8%
Ranked in the World
#38
Rwanda
Smoking Population
13.7%
Ranked in the World
#107
São Tomé and Príncipe
Smoking Population
5.7%
Ranked in the World
#153
Saudi Arabia
Smoking Population
14.3%
Ranked in the World
#105
Senegal
Smoking Population
6.9%
Ranked in the World
#151
Serbia
Smoking Population
39.8%
Ranked in the World
#3
Serbia comes third in the list of top smoking countries, with approximately 39.80% of its population reported as smokers.
Seychelles
Smoking Population
20.2%
Ranked in the World
#83
Sierra Leone
Smoking Population
13.5%
Ranked in the World
#110
Singapore
Smoking Population
16.5%
Ranked in the World
#94
Slovakia
Smoking Population
31.5%
Ranked in the World
#23
Slovenia
Smoking Population
22%
Ranked in the World
#68
Solomon Islands
Smoking Population
36.5%
Ranked in the World
#11
Solomon Islands rank eleventh among the countries that smoke the most, with a smoking rate of 36.50%.
South Africa
Smoking Population
20.3%
Ranked in the World
#79
South Korea
Smoking Population
20.8%
Ranked in the World
#77
Spain
Smoking Population
27.7%
Ranked in the World
#36
Sri Lanka
Smoking Population
22%
Ranked in the World
#69
Sweden
Smoking Population
24%
Ranked in the World
#55
Switzerland
Smoking Population
25.5%
Ranked in the World
#43
Tanzania
Smoking Population
8.7%
Ranked in the World
#135
Thailand
Smoking Population
22.1%
Ranked in the World
#66
The Bahamas
Smoking Population
10.6%
Ranked in the World
#129
The Gambia
Smoking Population
11.1%
Ranked in the World
#124
Togo
Smoking Population
6.8%
Ranked in the World
#152
Tunisia
Smoking Population
24.6%
Ranked in the World
#48
Turkey
Smoking Population
30.7%
Ranked in the World
#26
Turkmenistan
Smoking Population
5.5%
Ranked in the World
#154
Uganda
Smoking Population
8.4%
Ranked in the World
#139
Ukraine
Smoking Population
25.8%
Ranked in the World
#40
United Kingdom
Smoking Population
15.4%
Ranked in the World
#97
United States of America
Smoking Population
23%
Ranked in the World
#61
Uruguay
Smoking Population
21.5%
Ranked in the World
#71
Uzbekistan
Smoking Population
17.6%
Ranked in the World
#91
Vanuatu
Smoking Population
17.8%
Ranked in the World
#89
Vietnam
Smoking Population
24.8%
Ranked in the World
#47
Yemen
Smoking Population
20.3%
Ranked in the World
#80
Zambia
Smoking Population
14.4%
Ranked in the World
#102
Zimbabwe
Smoking Population
11.7%
Ranked in the World
#120
FAQs
What country smokes the most ?
The country that smokes the most is Nauru. It holds the highest smoking rate in the world, at 48.50%.
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