10 Countries Where People Smoke The Most

About 22% of the global population regularly smokes tobacco, a figure that has dropped significantly since 1990. However, despite this decline, several countries still have alarmingly high smoking rates, with nearly half of their populations continuing to smoke. Currently, the countries with the highest rates of smoking across their populations are Nauru, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, the Solomon Islands, Indonesia, Andorra, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

10 Countries With Highest Smoking Prevalence In The World

Nauru - 45.2%

Nauru, a small island country in Oceania, has the highest smoking rate in the world, with 45.2% of its population being smokers. Though smoking rates have fallen from around 64% in 2000, it remain a widespread issue in the country, driven largely by the influence of the tobacco industry. Additionally, the country’s government has taken very few actions to implement evidence-based practices and policies to decrease smoking levels, resulting in a growing death toll from tobacco and smoking-related deaths. Men are slightly more affected by smoking, with a higher percentage of men smoking compared to women.

Kiribati - 39.7%

Located in the Central Pacific Ocean in Oceania, south of Hawaii, Kiribati has the second-highest percentage of smokers in the world, accounting for 39.7% of its population. Despite its extremely high level of smokers, smoking is on a downward trend in the island country, decreasing from around 73% in 2000. Men are also much more likely to smoke than women, with over half of the male population smoking, compared to just a little over a quarter of the female population. The number of smokers has resulted in a health epidemic in Kiribati, with over 200 people dying each year from smoking tobacco products.

Papua New Guinea - 39.6%

East of the Papua province of Indonesia, on an island north of Australia, Papua New Guinea has the third highest rate of smokers in the world. Although the country has signed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), it continues to struggle to control tobacco use in the country. Additionally, tobacco use disproportionately affects lower-income households, with Papua New Guineans in the lowest-income quartile smoking more on average than those in higher-income groups. Nearly 13,000 people die each year in Papua New Guinea from smoking-related illnesses, emphasizing its danger to the population’s health.

Bulgaria - 39.5%

Bulgaria, in southeastern Europe west of the Black Sea, has a smoking rate of 39.5% across the general population. Although smoking since the early 21st century has not significantly decreased in Bulgaria, tobacco control policies have become stricter in recent years, projecting a decrease in smoking levels in the years to come. For example, the WHO recommends increasing cigarette taxes by 9%, the country investing in high-level mass media campaigns, restricting tobacco advertising, implementing graphic health warnings on products, and strengthening the enforcement of regulations, which, within five years, could decrease smoking by as much as 23%.

Serbia - 39.5%

Serbia, a central and southeastern European landlocked country, trails just behind Bulgaria, with a similar smoking rate that rounds up to about 39.5%. High levels of habitual smoking have led to a significant health crisis, with approximately 19,800 Serbians dying from tobacco-related illnesses each year—nearly 20% of the country’s total deaths. Because of the detrimental health impacts that these smoking levels have, the Serbian economy loses about 269 billion RSD every year, which is equivalent to about 4.9% of the country’s annual GDP.

Croatia - 37%

The central and southeastern country of Croatia, bordering the Adriatic Sea, has a smoking rate of 37%, making it the country with the sixth highest rate of smokers in the world. The country, in recent years, has actually seen an increase in smoking levels, from just around 33% in 2006. Annually, nearly 10,000 Croatians die from tobacco-related illnesses, attributing to approximately 19.7% of all deaths. Cigarette prices are low compared to other European countries, and smoking remains fairly socially acceptable. Many Croatians also turn to smoking as a way to cope with political instability and economic pressures.

Solomon Islands - 36.9%

The Solomon Islands, part of Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and the north of Australia, has a smoking rate of 36.9% across the population. The male population smokes overwhelmingly more than the female population, with over 55% of men smoking compared to just under 20% of women. The mortality rate for smokers in the country is about 18%, with nearly 800 people dying from tobacco smoking-related illnesses annually. The law in the Solomon Islands restricts the advertising of smoking products, and smoking is prohibited in a variety of public spaces, such as in public transport, hospitals, and schools.

Indonesia - 36.5%

Indonesia, a country straddling between Oceania and Southeast Asia, has a smoking population that represents 36.5% of the country’s residents. In addition to having one of the highest smoking rates, Indonesia is also one of the world’s largest producers of tobacco, likely contributing to its high tobacco consumption. Gudang Garam, Sampoerna, Djarum, and Bentoel are some of the country’s most prominent tobacco producers. Smoking has become the second highest risk factor for deaths and disability in the country, and about 23% of all deaths are related to tobacco use.

Andorra - 36.3%

Andorra, a small, landlocked country between Spain and France, has the ninth-highest rate of smoking in the world, with 36.3% of the general population smoking. The percentage of men smoking has particularly declined since the early 21st century, from 43% in 2000. Smoking is particularly a health concern among younger populations, with over 46% of young people surveyed, aged 13 to 18, reporting that they smoke either regularly or occasionally. The WHO projects smoking in Andorra to continue to decrease, however, in future years.

Bosnia and Herzegovina - 36.2%

Bosnia and Herzegovina, a country in southeastern Europe on the Balkan Peninsula, has the tenth highest rate of smoking in the world, with 36.2% of the population reporting smoking. A survey from BMJ journals found that of the smoking population, nearly half smoked over 20 cigarettes per day. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, men smoke at significantly higher rates than women, with over 56% of men reporting they smoke, compared to just under a third of women. Annually, nearly 8,600 people die in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a result of smoking-related illnesses.

While smoking rates are lowering in some countries, such as Nauru and Kiribati, other countries continue to face challenges in lowering the rate of regular smokers, such as Croatia and Bulgaria. Global health initiatives, such as the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, aim to assist countries in reducing smoking rates by investing in media campaigns, enhancing regulatory enforcement, and increasing health warnings on packaging. The impact of these initiatives will become evident in the coming years.

All Countries Ranked By Smoking Prevalence