20 Most Smoking Countries in Asia

4. Timor-Leste

Prevalence of Tobacco Smoking in 2022: 31.8%

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 hiked it further to $100/kg a year later, thus impacting the cigarette prices considerably.

However, despite the efforts, Timor-Leste is placed among the Top 5 Countries with the Highest Smoking Rates in Asia.