Smoking Rates by Country 2026

/ Country Stats, Health / By

The smoking rates by country in 2026 reveal a compelling global narrative of addiction, regulation, and public health. While many nations are making strides in tobacco control, others still face alarmingly high levels of smoking prevalence. Understanding these patterns not only highlights health priorities but also uncovers the cultural, economic, and regulatory dimensions behind cigarette consumption across continents.

To compile this analysis, data was collected from a comprehensive set of global health surveys and official national reports. Smoking rate here refers to the percentage of adults who regularly smoke tobacco products in 2026. These figures reflect both daily and occasional use. Some nations with aggressive anti-smoking policies, like Australia, have seen rates decline to the single digits, while small island nations such as Nauru continue to face dangerously high rates due to accessibility and lack of strong regulation. This article focuses on adult populations, typically aged 15 and above, and may not capture adolescent smoking behaviors. Also, gender disparities in smoking are significant in many countries but are not disaggregated in this summary.

Countries with the Highest Smoking Prevalence in 2026

  1. Nauru: 46.7%
  2. Myanmar: 42.3%
  3. Serbia: 39%
  4. Bulgaria: 38.8%
  5. Indonesia: 38.7%
  6. Papua New Guinea: 38.1%
  7. Croatia: 37.6%
  8. Timor-Leste: 37.2%
  9. Kiribati: 36.8%
  10. Andorra: 36.4%

The top 10 countries with the highest smoking rates are spread across Oceania, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe, indicating both geographic and socioeconomic influences. Nauru, a small Pacific island nation, leads with nearly half of its adult population smoking, a rate that reflects both cultural norms and minimal enforcement of anti-smoking legislation. Myanmar and Indonesia, representing populous Southeast Asian nations, also report very high figures—driven by low tobacco prices, aggressive marketing, and widespread social acceptance of smoking.

In Europe, countries like Serbia, Bulgaria, and Croatia continue to struggle with reducing tobacco use, despite EU-level campaigns. These nations have strong smoking cultures and often face challenges in implementing consistent bans and taxation policies. Notably, Andorra and Kiribati, though small in population, demonstrate how limited healthcare resources and poor regulation can contribute to rampant smoking even in niche territories.

Complete Global Ranking of Smoking Rates by Country 2026

# Country Smoking Rates
1 Nauru 46.7%
2 Myanmar 42.3%
3 Serbia 39%
4 Bulgaria 38.8%
5 Indonesia 38.7%
6 Papua New Guinea 38.1%
7 Croatia 37.6%
8 Timor Leste 37.2%
9 Kiribati 36.8%
10 Andorra 36.4%
11 Jordan 36.3%
12 Solomon Islands 36.1%
13 Bosnia and Herzegovina 35.2%
14 Cyprus 35%
15 France 34.6%
16 Lebanon 34.1%
17 Slovakia 32.8%
18 Latvia 32.6%
19 Tuvalu 32.2%
20 Georgia 31.6%
21 Hungary 31.5%
22 Montenegro 31.5%
23 Tonga 31.1%
24 Bangladesh 30.8%
25 Greece 30.6%
26 Moldova 30.5%
27 Marshall Islands 30.4%
28 Turkey 30.2%
29 Lithuania 30.2%
30 Czech Republic 29.4%
31 Romania 29.3%
32 Mongolia 29.2%
33 Russia 28.9%
34 Belarus 28.9%
35 Spain 27.8%
36 Chile 27%
37 Fiji 27%
38 Kyrgyzstan 26.9%
39 Estonia 26.4%
40 Belgium 26.3%
41 Egypt 25.8%
42 Portugal 25.8%
43 Cook Islands 25.8%
44 Nepal 25.7%
45 Switzerland 25.3%
46 Madagascar 25.1%
47 Laos 25.1%
48 Maldives 24.9%
49 Armenia 24.1%
50 Lesotho 24.1%
51 Malta 23.9%
52 United States 23.6%
53 Ukraine 23.6%
54 China 22.9%
55 Argentina 22.6%
56 Austria 22.5%
57 Luxembourg 22.3%
58 Italy 22.1%
59 Poland 22.1%
60 India 21.8%
61 Vietnam 21.7%
62 Afghanistan 21.3%
63 Algeria 21.1%
64 Malaysia 21%
65 Kazakhstan 20.9%
66 Samoa 20.8%
67 Finland 20.7%
68 Albania 20.7%
69 Yemen 20.6%
70 South Africa 20.5%
71 Sweden 20.5%
72 Mauritius 20.5%
73 Kuwait 20%
74 Netherlands 19.9%
75 Germany 19.7%
76 Seychelles 19.7%
77 Tunisia 19.5%
78 Slovenia 19.5%
79 Iraq 19.2%
80 Israel 19.2%
81 Philippines 19.1%
82 Uruguay 19.1%
83 Azerbaijan 18.7%
84 South Korea 18.5%
85 Sri Lanka 18.5%
86 Thailand 18.3%
87 Japan 17.8%
88 Ireland 17.8%
89 Botswana 17.6%
90 Bhutan 17.6%
91 Pakistan 17.2%
92 Palau 16.6%
93 Brunei 16.4%
94 Republic of the Congo 16.3%
95 Singapore 16.2%
96 Uzbekistan 15.8%
97 Cuba 15.7%
98 Comoros 15.5%
99 North Korea 15.4%
100 Cambodia 15.3%
101 Saudi Arabia 15%
102 Denmark 14.4%
103 Bahrain 14.3%
104 Mexico 14.1%
105 Zambia 14.1%
106 Rwanda 13.5%
107 Saint Lucia 13.3%
108 Namibia 13.2%
109 Burkina Faso 13.1%
110 Iran 12.5%
111 United Kingdom 12.5%
112 Qatar 12.5%
113 Morocco 12.2%
114 Norway 12.2%
115 Australia 12%
116 Honduras 11.9%
117 Guatemala 11.8%
118 DR Congo 11.5%
119 Bahamas 11.3%
120 Brazil 11.1%
121 Bolivia 11.1%
122 Sierra Leone 11%
123 New Zealand 10.9%
124 Canada 10.7%
125 Zimbabwe 10.4%
126 Cabo Verde 10.2%
127 Burundi 10.1%
128 Kenya 9.9%
129 Ecuador 9.8%
130 Dominican Republic 9.8%
131 Guyana 9.7%
132 Gambia 9.5%
133 Paraguay 9.4%
134 Eswatini 9.3%
135 Jamaica 9%
136 Malawi 8.6%
137 Oman 8.6%
138 Mauritania 8.4%
139 El Salvador 8.3%
140 Belize 8.3%
141 United Arab Emirates 8.2%
142 Tanzania 8.1%
143 Costa Rica 8.1%
144 Sao Tome and Principe 8.1%
145 Ivory Coast 8%
146 Iceland 7.9%
147 Haiti 7.8%
148 Colombia 7.5%
149 Niger 7.5%
150 Liberia 7.5%
151 Mali 7.3%
152 Guinea Bissau 7.3%
153 Chad 7%
154 Barbados 6.7%
155 Uganda 6.4%
156 Peru 5.8%
157 Cameroon 5.8%
158 Senegal 5.8%
159 Togo 5.7%
160 Benin 5.5%
161 Ethiopia 5.1%
162 Turkmenistan 4.9%
163 Panama 4.5%
164 Ghana 3.1%
165 Nigeria 2.8%

Additional Insights from the Full Dataset

Outside the top 10, some important regional trends emerge. France (34.6%) and Jordan (36.3%) remain above global averages, indicating persistent cultural entrenchment of smoking. In contrast, major economies like the United States (23.6%), China (22.9%), and India (21.8%) have made incremental progress in lowering smoking rates through nationwide campaigns, taxation, and smoke-free laws, yet their large populations mean the absolute number of smokers remains vast.

Scandinavian nations such as Sweden (20.5%), Norway (12.2%), and Finland (20.7%) consistently report lower rates, thanks to their focus on public health awareness and nicotine alternatives like snus and e-cigarettes. Meanwhile, Sub-Saharan African countries such as Nigeria (2.8%), Ghana (3.1%), and Ethiopia (5.1%) report some of the lowest smoking rates globally, possibly due to both cultural aversion and lower tobacco market penetration.

Noteworthy Trends in Anti-Smoking Success

One standout performer is Australia, with a smoking rate of just 12%. Through sustained media campaigns, high cigarette taxes, and plain packaging laws, Australia has set a benchmark in tobacco control. Similarly, Canada (10.7%) and New Zealand (10.9%) have maintained low levels through aggressive regulation and community-level support programs.

Despite global progress in reducing smoking, wide disparities remain between high-income countries implementing advanced public health policies and low-to-middle income nations struggling with enforcement, affordability, and cultural habits. The 2025 data reveals that while some countries are approaching smoke-free status, others continue to battle against a tobacco epidemic that poses severe health and economic risks. Global cooperation, targeted policies, and public education will be key to bridging these gaps in the years ahead.

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