What percentage of adults smoke globally?

Approximately 19.7% of adults smoke, down from 32% in 1990.

Which country has the highest smoking rate?

Indonesia has one of the highest rates at approximately 34% of adults.

How many people die from smoking?

Tobacco kills over 8 million people annually, including 1.3 million non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke.

Global Average Smoking Rate

Last updated: February 2, 2026

19.7%

The global smoking rate is approximately 19.7% of adults, with about 1.3 billion tobacco users worldwide. Rates are highest in parts of Asia (Indonesia ~34%, China ~25%) and lowest in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Latin America.

Historical Trend

Source: WHO

Global Average Smoking Rate by Country

Country	Value (%) ↓	Source
Indonesia	34	WHO
Russia	28.3	Rosstat
China	25.6	WHO
France	24	Santé Publique
Germany	23.8	RKI
Japan	20.1	MHLW
South Korea	19.3	KCDC
Pakistan	19.1	WHO
Saudi Arabia	14.5	WHO
United Kingdom	13.3	ONS
United Arab Emirates	11.8	WHO
United States	11.6	CDC
India	10.7	GATS
Australia	10.6	ABS
Brazil	9.8	IBGE
Nigeria	5.6	WHO

Why This Average Exists

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death globally, killing over 8 million people annually. Tracking rates helps measure public health intervention effectiveness.

Factors That Affect Global Average Smoking Rate

Tobacco taxes
Advertising restrictions
Public smoking bans
Education campaigns
Cultural norms
E-cigarette adoption

Frequently Asked Questions

Methodology & Data Sources

The data presented on this page is compiled from publicly available datasets published by international organizations including the World Bank, World Health Organization (WHO), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations, NASA, and national statistical agencies.

Global averages are calculated using population-weighted or arithmetic means depending on the metric. Country-level data reflects the most recent available figures, typically from 2024–2024. Where gaps exist, the latest available data point is used.

All figures are subject to revision as source organizations update their datasets. For the most authoritative data, we encourage consulting the original sources linked in the table above.