In this article, we are going to discuss the 10 countries with the most cigarette smokers per capita. If you want to check out our detailed analysis of the global tobacco market, the country with the least cigarette smokers in the world, and the rise of smokeless tobacco, head to 25 Countries with the Most Cigarette Smokers per Capita.
10. Hungary
Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking in 2022: 29.9%
Smoking is a top health hazard in Hungary and between 1990 and 2017, around 882,000 Hungarians died due to smoking-related conditions in the country. The Hungarian government has introduced several regulations to deter people from the smoke, including reducing the density of tobacco retailers by confining the sale of tobacco products exclusively to the so-called National Tobacco Shops.
9. Solomon Islands
Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking in 2022: 30.2%
Solomon Islands is placed among the Top 10 Countries with the Highest Percentage of Cigarette Smokers. In 2015, the South Pacific country introduced new regulations making it compulsory for all tobacco packaging to display graphic health warnings on 70% of the front and 30% of the back, to discourage people from the habit.
8. France
Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking in 2022: 31.2%
The daily percentage of smokers in France is higher than the EU average, with around 22% of the French aged 15 and older smoking daily, compared to just under 19% overall in the European Union. However, a large number of French smokers are now following the global trend and shifting from cigarettes to vaping.
7. Timor-Leste
Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking in 2022: 31.5%
Home to around 1.3 million people, Timor-Leste (or East Timor) is an island country in Southeast Asia, located on the southernmost edge of the Indonesian archipelago. Smoking is an integral part of the country’s fabric and nearly two-thirds of its male population is hooked on the habit.
To bring the smoking rate down, the government increased the excise tax on tobacco by 163% in January 2022 from $19/kg to $50/kg, and then hiking it further to $100/kg a year later, thus impacting the cigarette prices considerably.
6. Kiribati
Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking in 2022: 33.1%
Kiribati has firmly accepted tobacco smoking as part of its culture and efforts to introduce smoking regulations have always evoked a strong negative reaction from the public. The country imported around $85,300 worth of cigarettes in 2022, mainly from Fiji, Australia, and Chinese Taipei.
5. Indonesia
Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking in 2022: 33.2%
Indonesia is known for its relatively high tolerance towards smoking and the country still hasn’t signed or ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Established in 1958, PT Gudang Garam Tbk is one of Indonesia’s leading cigarette manufacturers, best known for its kretek clove cigarettes. The company produces over 70 billion cigarettes annually but its share of the domestic market has steadily declined over the last decade to around 20%, as it comes under pressure from rivals such as HM Sampoerna.
Indonesia is the Country with the Most Smokers in Asia.
4. Croatia
Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking in 2022: 33.4%
Croatia has one of the Highest Smoking Rates in Europe, and a major reason for this is the availability and affordability of cigarettes compared to other European countries. The Croatian government has tried out several measures over the years to curb smoking, including anti-smoking laws and tax hikes, but not much has changed.
3. Nauru
Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking in 2022: 36.1%
Lying between Australia and Hawaii, the island of Nauru is one of the unhealthiest countries in the world, with a large part of the population being overweight and addicted to smoking. Tobacco use among young people is also quite common in the Pacific island nation, with around 26.2% of students aged 13-15 years being current tobacco users.
2. Bulgaria
Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking in 2022: 36.2%
Bulgaria is the Country that Smokes the Most in the EU, with around 28.2% of its population consuming tobacco daily. The Bulgarian government recently announced that it would provide around $38.4 million in aid to its tobacco growers to support their transition to an alternative livelihood.
1. Serbia
Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking in 2022: 36.5%
It is almost impossible to get away from cigarette smoke in Serbia, with it being the Top Cigarette-Smoking Country in the World. Although the Balkan country banned smoking in public places all the way back in 1995, you can still see people casually enjoying a smoke on the streets.
Philip Morris International announced a new $100 million investment in Serbia in September 2023, creating 200 new jobs and taking the tobacco behemoth’s overall investment in the country to over $1 billion.
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