Data sourced:
2025.
Page updated:
2025-12-11
In Namibia, cigarettes are legally allowed to be sold and used, but there are certain regulations around tobacco products, including cigarettes. These regulations ban all forms of tobacco advertising, set a minimum sales age of 18 years, and prohibit smoking in public places such as healthcare and educational facilities. Additionally, health warnings on packaging are required, and a specific excise tax of 37.56% is applied, contributing to a total taxation rate of 50.60% on cigarettes. Regulations allow purchase of cigarettes online and through vending machines.
The current prevalence of smoking among adults aged 15 years and older, according to the World Health Organization, was 11.2% in 2022. This prevalence was significantly higher among males with 19.2%, compared to 4% among females. In terms of absolute numbers, approximately 249,000 individuals in Namibia were identified as smokers in 2024. Compared to previous years, there has been a slight decrease in smoking prevalence from 11.7% in 2020. For reference, the adult daily smoking prevalence in 2017 was reported to be 17.2%, with 27.6% among males and 7.7% among females.
The annual number of deaths attributable to tobacco smoking in 2021 was 1,100, of which 388 deaths were among females and 712 were among males. These smoking-related deaths represented 4.1% of all deaths in the country, with 3.24% among females and 4.8% among males. These statistics highlight the ongoing public health challenge posed by tobacco smoking in Namibia, necessitating continued efforts for mitigating its health impacts.
Prevalence
Loading chart, please wait...
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 267,221 | 1A |
| 2024 | 249,000 | 1B |
References:
- (1) WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition. (2) Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Ed.). (2019). World Population Prospects 2019 (Online Edition Rev. 1.; Population Division). United Nations. https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Loading chart, please wait...
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 17.3% | 2A |
| 2020 | 11.7% | 2B |
| 2022 | 11.2% | 2C A |
References:
- WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
- WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
- WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
Comments:
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
Loading chart, please wait...
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 6.3% | 2A |
| 2020 | 4.4% | 2B |
| 2022 | 4% | 2C A |
References:
- WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
- WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
- WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
Comments:
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
Loading chart, please wait...
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 28.3% | 2A |
| 2020 | 19.8% | 2B |
| 2022 | 19.2% | 2C A |
References:
- WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
- WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
- WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
Comments:
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
267,460
3
A
17.2%
3
A
7.7%
3
A
27.6%
3
A
1%
3
A
References:
- WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
- WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
- WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/
Comments:
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
- These rates are modelled using all national survey data published since 1990 to estimate the underlying prevalence trends by sex, then applying age-standardization to allow comparison with other countries. They do not necessarily resemble country data from 2015
Smoking-related mortality
Loading chart, please wait...
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,033 | 1A |
| 2021 | 1,100 | 1B A |
References:
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
- Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Loading chart, please wait...
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 333 | 1A |
| 2021 | 388 | 1B A |
References:
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
- Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Loading chart, please wait...
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 700 | 1A |
| 2021 | 712 | 1B A |
References:
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
- Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Loading chart, please wait...
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 5.93% | 1A |
| 2021 | 4.1% | 1B A |
References:
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
- Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Loading chart, please wait...
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 4.3% | 1A |
| 2021 | 3.24% | 1B A |
References:
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
- Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Loading chart, please wait...
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 6.7% | 1A |
| 2021 | 4.8% | 1B A |
References:
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
- Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
References:
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
- Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
- Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Product promotion
References:
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-nam.pdf?sfvrsn=c0db41f2_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
Regulation
References:
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-nam.pdf?sfvrsn=c0db41f2_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
Comments:
- There are certain restrictions in place.
Availability
Yes
1
A
2023
Yes
1
2023
Yes
1
A
2023
Yes
1
2023
Yes
2
A
2025
Yes
1
A
2023
References:
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-nam.pdf?sfvrsn=c0db41f2_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
- World Integrated Trade Solution. World Bank. Cigarettes containing tobacco imports by country in 2023. Available at: https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/ALL/year/2023/tradeflow/Imports/partner/WLD/product/240220. Accessed: 27 November 2025.
Comments:
- There are certain restrictions in place.
- An import license is required.
Regulations and restrictions
YES
1
2023
Yes: 18 years
1
2023
YES
1
2023
References:
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-nam.pdf?sfvrsn=c0db41f2_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
Tax
References:
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-nam.pdf?sfvrsn=c0db41f2_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
Comments:
- 0.38
- Total taxation rate: 50.60%
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.