Top Stories from Malaysia
17.9% of the adult population are current smokers
There are approximately 4.9 million current smokers in Malaysia
33.6% of men are current smokers but only 0.5% of women
Country profile
Data sourced:
2026.
Page updated:
2026-08-10
Smoking in Malaysia
There has been a downwards trend in current smoking prevalence in the general population in Malaysia. Smoking prevalence was 29% in 2000 and declined to 22% in 2015, with a further drop to 19% projected by 2025. For men the prevalence decreased from 54% in 2000 to 44% in 2015, with a further decrease to 38% projected by 2025. For women a low prevalence of 3% in 2000 decreased to 1% in 2015, and is projected to decrease further to 0.5% by 2025. The WHO published prevalence trend estimates in tobacco smoking, as shown here, in their 2018 2nd edition report, which show slightly different smoking prevalence to the WHO country profiles. Data for the estimates were obtained from WHO databases. The trend lines are projections, not predictions, of future attainment. A projection indicates a likely endpoint if the country maintains its tobacco control efforts at the same level that it has implemented them to date. Therefore the impact of recent interventions could alter the expected endpoint shown in the projection. While the methods of estimation used in the first and second editions of the WHO report are the same, the volume of data available for the second edition is larger i.e. 200 more national surveys. The results presented are therefore more robust.
24,106
Deaths
In Malaysia, tobacco smoking leads to 24,106 deaths annually.
1.6 million €
Market size of NRT.
NRT represent an estimated market size of 1.6 million €.
Nicotine Vaping Devices
in Malaysia
E-cigarettes are allowed in Malaysia. However, there are some legal restrictions that manufacturers and users must follow. People cannot purchase e-cigarettes through online channels or vending machines. There are also legal restrictions on vaping in public places, and the minimum legal age for purchasing e-cigarettes is 18 years. Manufacturers are required to notify the authorities before introducing new products to the market. There are no restrictions on flavours, but nicotine content must not exceed 20 mg/ml.
In 2023, the current prevalence of vaping among adults in Malaysia was 5.8% (0.8% among females and 10.5% among males). This shows an increasing trend in recent years and represents an estimated 1.5 million vapers in 2023.
Heated Tobacco Products
in Malaysia
Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are legally allowed in Malaysia. These products are not allowed to be purchased online or via vending machines but are available and can be purchased from general retail stores. The law requires HTPs to have health warnings on their packaging and imposes restrictions on their use in public places with a minimum legal age of 18 years for their sales.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in Malaysia
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is legally allowed in Malaysia. This includes the sale and purchase of its products without a prescription that can be found in pharmacies. NRT products are included on the country’s essential drugs list, and the government fully covers the cost of NRT. The market size value of NRT in Malaysia was estimated to be 1.6 million € in 2019.
Snus
in Malaysia
Used in Scandinavia for more than 200 years, snus is providing smokers in Sweden and Norway with an alternative to combustible cigarettes. Find out what it is, and why it is considered a safer nicotine product in our briefing paper.
Pouches
in Malaysia
Nicotine pouches are a relatively new product which can provide users of high-risk tobacco with an alternative that poses fewer risks to their health. Read more about nicotine pouches in our briefing paper
The GSTHR database is updated regularly by our team.
However, please be aware that the information we provide does not constitute legal advice.
We cannot guarantee that the information is up to date or accurate, as the regulatory status of different product
categories can change at short notice and with little publicity.
If you wish to check the legal status of use or possession of any safer nicotine product in a specific country or region,
you should verify the information independently.
If you have reason to think that the information supplied on the GSTHR is inaccurate, please contact us with details
and any references and we will rectify any errors.