Traditional smokeless use in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, traditional smokeless tobacco use is widespread, with around 4 million current users recored in 2018. In the same year, the overall prevalence of use was 19.3% among adults, but the rates varied significantly by gender. About 33.7% of adult males used traditional smokeless tobacco, compared to just 3.7% of adult females as of 2018. Daily use was recored to be also common. 17.1% of adults reported using it every day, including 29.4% of men and 3.7% of women.
A popular form of smokeless tobacco in Afghanistan is Naswar, especially in rural areas. Naswar is locally produced, cheap, and easy to make, which contributes to its widespread use in communities with limited access to more expensive tobacco products. Traditional smokeless tobacco is legal in Afghanistan and is regulated as a tobacco product. There is a ban on all advertising, and health warnings on packaging are required. The minimum legal age for purchase is 18 years. Despite these regulations, smokeless tobacco products remain readily available in shops, markets, informal vendors, and even online. Though certain controls are in place, traditional smokeless tobacco—particularly Naswar—continues to be a widely used and accessible product, especially among men and in rural areas.