Top Ten Smoking Countries
The 20 countries that smoke the most Andorra Luxembourg; Belarus; Macedonia; Albania; Belgium; Czech Republic; Jordan; Russia; Syria; Slovenia; Greece; Hungary; China; Lebanon; Armenia; Mongolia; Cyprus; Austria; Georgia; Jordan, Syria and China are the most tobacco-dependent non-European countries. Few regular visitors to Greece will be surprised to see it at 12 th.
Globally, cigarette smoking prevalence is flat or decreasing, but the total number of smokers world-wide continues to increase simply due to population growth. In the wake of the $23 billion jury verdict against Reynolds American and that company’s announcement of a merger deal with Lorillard, take a look at the 10 countries that smoke the most.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has made progress on tobacco control in recent years. However, people continue to die and become sick needlessly, and the costs to society from tobacco use continue to mount. Bosnia and Herzegovina can still do more to make the proven tobacco control tools work for its citizens’ wellbeing.
While smoking rates have leveled off or declined in developed nations, especially among men, in developing nations tobacco consumption continues to rise. More than 80% of all smokers now live in countries with low or middle incomes, and 60% in just 10 countries, a list headed by China.
More than 80% of all smokers now live in countries with low or middle incomes, and 60% in just 10 countries, a list headed by China. Smokers are over half of adult males in Indonesia (57%, but mostly kretek, a local form of cigarette) and China (53% estimated), and nearly half in Bangladesh, though for women the figure is much lower.
5. Moldova. Cigarette consumption per capita: 2,479. Around the world, 48% of the world’s cigarette consumption was in the Western Pacific in 2009, 24% in Europe and 11% in the Americas. Left, a “Lada” car, a brand well known during the communist era, is driven in Tiraspol, the main city of Transnistria, a separatist republic of Moldova.
While smoking rates have leveled off or declined in developed nations, especially among men, in developing nations tobacco consumption continues to rise. More than 80% of all smokers now live in countries with low or middle incomes, and 60% in just 10 countries, a list headed by China.
2. Bulgaria. Cigarette consumption per capita: 2,822. Left, people smoke cigarettes in front of the National Theatre in the center of Sofia. Bulgaria enforced a full smoking ban in all enclosed public spaces including bars and restaurants.
The very highest rate is in Serbia (2,861 cigarettes per person per year), according to data from 71 countries compiled by the World Lung Foundation and American Cancer Society. Fourth-place Russia, not far behind at 2,786 cigarettes per person per year, is now finally dealing with its smoking problem.