Profile
Venezuela Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Venezuela Background
Profile
Venezuela Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Data sourced: 2025.   Page updated: 2025-10-30

In Venezuela, smoking is allowed with some regulations in place. The sale of cigarettes is legal, but purchasing them from vending machines or online is prohibited. Importing cigarettes for trade is allowed with an import license. Moreover, cigarette packaging must include health warnings, and there is a comprehensive ban on all tobacco advertising. The minimum legal age to purchase cigarettes is 18 years. Additionally, smoking is legally restricted in public places to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke. Cigarettes in Venezuela are subject to a total taxation rate of 0.73.
The adult current tobacco smoking prevalence shows that 25.2% of males and 13.9% of females were current smokers in 2023, with an overall rate of 19.4%. The total number of current smokers in the country was estimated to be 2.7 million in 2024. As of 2023, the adult daily smoking prevalence was 13.1%, with 17% among males and 9.4% among females. Tobacco smoking contributes significantly to mortality in Venezuela. In 2021, approximately 14,100 deaths were attributable to tobacco smoking including 10,300 male deaths and 3,800 female deaths. This shows that smoking-related deaths accounted for 5.08% of all deaths in the country, including 6.37% of male deaths and 3.27% of female deaths. These data indicate a substantial public health impact of smoking in Venezuela.

Prevalence

2.7 million
1
2024
19.4%
2 A
2023
13.9%
2 A
2023
25.2%
2 A
2023
3.2 million
3 B
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier 14% 2A A
2023 13.1% 2B A
References:
  1. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/
  2. 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-ven.pdf?sfvrsn=5aa4095b_3&download=true. Accessed: 11 June 2025.
Comments:
  1. Age range varies from majority of WHO prevalence estimates. Data is drawn from the National survey of drugs in the general population, 2011. Age range 18 -65.
  2. Cigarette Smoking. Adults survey: Estudio Nacional de Drogas en Población General, 2011; National, ages 18-65
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier 9.3% 2A A
2023 9.4% 2B A
References:
  1. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/
  2. 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-ven.pdf?sfvrsn=5aa4095b_3&download=true. Accessed: 11 June 2025.
Comments:
  1. Age range varies from majority of WHO prevalence estimates. Data is drawn from the National survey of drugs in the general population, 2011. Age range 18 -65.
  2. Cigarette Smoking. Adults survey: Estudio Nacional de Drogas en Población General, 2011; National, ages 18-65
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier 18.8% 2A A
2023 17% 2B A
References:
  1. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/
  2. 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-ven.pdf?sfvrsn=5aa4095b_3&download=true. Accessed: 11 June 2025.
Comments:
  1. Age range varies from majority of WHO prevalence estimates. Data is drawn from the National survey of drugs in the general population, 2011. Age range 18 -65.
  2. Cigarette Smoking. Adults survey: Estudio Nacional de Drogas en Población General, 2011; National, ages 18-65
References:
  1. 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
  2. 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-ven.pdf?sfvrsn=5aa4095b_3&download=true. Accessed: 11 June 2025.
  3. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/
Comments:
  1. Cigarette Smoking. Adults survey: Estudio Nacional de Drogas en Población General, 2011; National, ages 18-65
  2. Age range varies from majority of WHO prevalence estimates. Data is drawn from the National survey of drugs in the general population, 2011. Age range 18 -65.

Smoking-related mortality

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Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 17,296 1A
2021 14,085 1B A
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. 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.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 6,458 1A
2021 3,788 1B A
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. 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.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 10,838 1A
2021 10,298 1B A
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. 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.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 10.73% 1A
2021 5.08% 1B B
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. 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.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 10.1% 1A
2021 3.27% 1B B
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. 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.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 11.1% 1A
2021 6.37% 1B B
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. 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:
  1. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. 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.
  2. 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:
  1. 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-ven.pdf?sfvrsn=5aa4095b_3&download=true. Accessed: 11 June 2025.

Regulation

References:
  1. 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-ven.pdf?sfvrsn=5aa4095b_3&download=true. Accessed: 11 June 2025.
Comments:
  1. There are certain restrictions in place.

Availability

References:
  1. 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-ven.pdf?sfvrsn=5aa4095b_3&download=true. Accessed: 11 June 2025.
  2. 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: 2 July 2025.
Comments:
  1. There are certain restrictions in place.
  2. An import license is required.

Regulations and restrictions

References:
  1. 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-ven.pdf?sfvrsn=5aa4095b_3&download=true. Accessed: 11 June 2025.

Tax

References:
  1. 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-ven.pdf?sfvrsn=5aa4095b_3&download=true. Accessed: 11 June 2025.
Comments:
  1. Total taxes: 73.37%
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.