Top Stories from Thailand
18.9% of the adult population are current smokers
There are approximately 11.0 million current smokers in Thailand
37.7% of men are current smokers but only 1.8% of women
Country profile
Data sourced:
2024.
Page updated:
2025-06-19
Smoking in Thailand
There has been a downwards trend in current smoking prevalence in the general population in Thailand. Smoking prevalence was 25% overall in 2000 and declined to just under 21% in 2015, with a further drop to 18% projected by 2025. The prevalence of current smoking for men remains high. Men’s smoking prevalence decreased from 48% in 2000 to 40.5% in 2015, with a further decrease to 36% projected by 2025. Women’s smoking prevalence was much lower, at 2.7% in 2000; this decreased very slightly to 2.2% in 2015, and is projected to decrease further to 2% 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 are not age standardised, and 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.
66,327
Deaths
66327 people in Thailand die from tobacco smoking-related diseases each year.
5.5 million €
Market size of NRT.
Estimated NRT market size is 5.5 million €.
Nicotine Vaping Devices
in Thailand
In Thailand, the number of vapers was reported to be 80.8 thousand in 2021. This corresponds to a vaping prevalence of 0.14% among adults—0.02% among females and 0.26% among males. However, the country maintains a restrictive stance on e-cigarettes and vaping products, prohibiting the sale and use of these items. According to these regulations, importing these products for both personal use and trade, as well as advertising and marketing them in any form, is banned. These stringent regulations limit access to safer nicotine alternatives, placing smokers at greater risk of developing smoking-related diseases and compelling current vapers to revert to smoking.
Heated Tobacco Products
in Thailand
Thailand bans Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) by law. Under these regulations, it is illegal to import the product for both trade and personal use, as well as to sell, advertise, and promote these products. However, the use of HTPs in public places remains uncertain. In Thailand you can't legally purchase using HTP devices.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in Thailand
In Thailand, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is allowed, and it is legal to sell, purchase, and use NRT products without a prescription. These products are not regulated as medicinal products but are available in pharmacies. The government does not provide financial support to help cover the cost of NRT, as it is not included on the country's essential drugs list. NRT is legal to use.
Snus
in Thailand
Thailand has banned snus by law, prohibiting its sale, purchase, use, and all forms of advertising. However, it is not specified in online sources whether snus can be imported for personal use. If you have any relevant or firsthand information, please share it with the GSTHR team. The sale of Snus is banned.
Pouches
in Thailand
According to the Anti Smoking Global Index, nicotine pouches are banned by law in Thailand. However, Tobacco Intelligence reported in the same year that there are no specific laws regarding nicotine pouches in the country. If you have any useful or firsthand information, please share it with the GSTHR team. The sale of Pouches is banned.
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.