
Smoking rates by country 2024 | Image from World Population Review
Smoking, a global health crisis, continues to claim millions of lives annually. So, overall trend is a decline in both female and male smoking rates. Yet, certain regions and countries still grapple with alarmingly high levels of tobacco consumption. And this issue is particularly prevalent among men.
The Top 10 Countries with the Highest Male Smoking Rates
Here are the top 10 countries where male smoking rates are the highest:
- Indonesia: A staggering 70.5% of Indonesian men are smokers.
- Myanmar: With a male smoking rate of 70.2%, Myanmar follows closely behind.
- Kiribati: The Pacific Island nation of Kiribati has a male smoking rate of 68.6%.
- Tuvalu: Another Pacific Island nation, Tuvalu, has a male smoking rate of 66%.
- Timor-Leste: The Southeast Asian nation of Timor-Leste has a male smoking rate of 65.8%.
- Bangladesh: A South Asian country with a male smoking rate of 60.6%.
- Laos: The Southeast Asian nation of Laos has a male smoking rate of 60.1%.
- Solomon Islands: A Pacific island nation with a male smoking rate of 55.9%.
- Lesotho: The Southern African nation of Lesotho has a male smoking rate of 54.7%.
- Georgia: The Eurasian nation of Georgia has a male smoking rate of 54.2%.
List of Countries with the Male Smoking Rates
- Indonesia 70.5%
- Myanmar 70.2%
- Kiribati 68.6%
- Tuvalu 66%
- Timor Leste/East Timor 65.8%
- Bangladesh 60.6%
- Laos 60.1%
- Solomon Islands 55.9%
- Lesotho 54.7%
- Georgia 54.2%
- Kyrgyzstan 52.5%
- Armenia 51.8%
- Nauru 51.7%
- Albania 50.5%
- Cyprus 50.1%
- Latvia 49.5%
- Lebanon 49.4%
- Chile 49.2%
- Tunisia 49.1%
- Mongolia 49.1%
- Nepal 48.6%
- Tonga 48.4%
- Mauritius 48.3%
- China 47.7%
- Madagascar 46.9%
- South Africa 46.8%
- Sri Lanka 43.2%
- Bosnia and Herzegovina 46.3%
- Greece 45.3%
- Vanuatu 45%
- Moldova 44.6%
- Belarus 42.8%
- Malaysia 42.7%
- Thailand 42.5%
- Bulgaria 42.5%
- Egypt 42.3%
- Fiji 42.3%
- Kazakhstan 42.2%
- India 42%
- Philippines 41.6%
- Turkey 41.5%
- Bahrain 41.5%
- Ukraine 41%
- Russia 40.9%
- Kuwait 40.9%
- Iraq 40.8%
- Samoa 40.8%
- Serbia 40%
- Cuba 39.7%
- Azerbaijan 39%
- Slovakia 38.6%
- South Korea 38.2%
- Andorra 38.1%
- Croatia 37.9%
- North Korea 37.5%
- Cambodia 37.4%
- Botswana 37.3%
- Estonia 36.9%
- Algeria 36.3%
- Palau 36.3%
- France 36%
- United Arab Emirates 35.6%
- Lithuania 35.3%
- Seychelles 35.3%
- Romania 35.2%
- Israel 35.2%
- Hungary 34.8%
- Pakistan 33.6%
- Portugal 33.3%
- Japan 33.2%
- Yemen 32.5%
- Cook Islands 31.3%
- Saudi Arabia 31.2%
- Sierra Leone 31%
- United States 30.9%
- Austria 30.4%
- Poland 30.3%
- Republic of the Congo 30.1%
- Germany 29.9%
- Comoros 29.9%
- Spain 29.1%
- Morocco 28.6%
- Brunei 28.6%
- Namibia 28.4%
- Argentina 28.2%
- Switzerland 27.8%
- Singapore 27.8%
- Malta 27.8%
- Gambia 27.3%
- Italy 27.1%
- Belgium 26.9%
- Qatar 26.7%
- Zimbabwe 26.5%
- Ireland 26.1%
- Netherlands 25.6%
- Uruguay 25.2%
- Slovenia 25.1%
- Zambia 25%
- Burkina Faso 24.9%
- Iran 24.6%
- Côte d’Ivoire 24.3%
- Luxembourg 23.6%
- Tanzania 23.5%
- Mozambique 23.4%
- Uzbekistan 23.3%
- El Salvador 22.8%
- Canada 22.7%
- Mali 22.4%
- Guyana 22.1%
- Brazil 21.5%
- Chad 21.3%
- Mexico 21.2%
- United Kingdom 21.1%
- Finland 21%
- Kenya 20.8%
- Paraguay 20.8%
- Malawi 20.4%
- Rwanda 19.7%
- Eswatini 19.1%
- Burundi 18.8%
- Australia 18.7%
- Bahamas 18.6%
- Oman 18.5%
- Denmark 18.4%
- Jamaica 17.7%
- Cameroon 17.5%
- Senegal 17.4%
- Niger 16.3%
- New Zealand 16.1%
- Peru 15.6%
- Uganda 15.5%
- Norway 15.5%
- Liberia 15.1%
- Barbados 15%
- Costa Rica 14.7%
- Eritrea 14.2%
- Iceland 13.9%
- Togo 13.5%
- Haiti 13.3%
- Benin 12.4%
- Colombia 12.2%
- Dominican Republic 11.2%
- Panama 11.1%
- Sao Tomé and Principe 9.5%
- Nigeria 9%
- Ethiopia 8.3%
- Ghana 7%
- Sweden 6%
The Global Smoking Landscape
When these countries top the list, many others face significant smoking challenges. Regions like Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East often have higher prevalence rates. A complex interplay of factors, including cultural norms, socioeconomic conditions, and aggressive tobacco industry marketing, contributes to these disparities.
The Health and Economic Toll
Smoking is a leading cause of preventable death. It is linked to a wide range of diseases, including lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and respiratory illnesses. Also, the economic burden of smoking is also significant, with healthcare costs, lost productivity, and premature death impacting nations worldwide.
The Road to a Smoke-Free Future
To tackle the global smoking epidemic, comprehensive tobacco control strategies are essential. These include:
- Implementing Smoke-Free Laws: Creating smoke-free environments reduces exposure to secondhand smoke and discourages smoking.
- Increasing Tobacco Taxes: Higher taxes on tobacco products can make them less affordable and reduce consumption.
- Running Effective Anti-Smoking Campaigns: Public awareness campaigns can educate people about the dangers of smoking and motivate them to quit.
- Providing Cessation Services: Offering counseling, medication, and other support services can help smokers quit successfully.
- International Cooperation: Collaborating with other countries to share best practices and coordinate efforts can strengthen global tobacco control efforts.
By taking decisive action, we can reduce the devastating impact of smoking on public health. This will create a healthier future for generations to come.
Source: World Population Review