Tobacco smoking in Benin

In Benin, smoking is allowed, but tobacco products including cigarettes are subject to specific legal control measures. Based on these regulations, a comprehensive ban on all tobacco advertising, including cigarettes, is strictly enforced. Health warnings on their packaging are required, and smoking is restricted in public places such as healthcare and educational facilities. There is also a minimum age restriction on sales of 18 years. While no excise tax is applied on cigarettes, the total taxation rate is 13.23%. Furthermore, retail sale is allowed, and cigarette products can legally be purchased online. However, the sale of cigarettes through vending machines is prohibited. Importing tobacco products for trade is allowed with a proper license.

The current prevalence of smoking among adults aged 15 years and older in Benin was estimated to be 4.5% in 2024. This prevalence shows notable gender disparities: 8.4% among males and 0.7% among females. These figures indicate a decrease from previous years; in 2020, the current prevalence of smoking was 7.3% among males and 1.2% among females. The number of current tobacco smokers in Benin was estimated to be 377,000 in 2024. This reflects an increase from 284,115 in 2020 but a decline from 393,262 in 2019. The adult daily tobacco smoking prevalence in 2018 was 5.4%, with a prevalence of 6.9% among males and 1.4% among females.

In Benin, deaths due to tobacco smoking accounted for 1.23% of all deaths in 2021, with a higher impact on males (1.7%) compared to females (0.63%). The total number of deaths attributed to tobacco smoking in 2021 was 1,282, with 988 deaths among males and 294 among females. These statistics highlight public health challenges posed by tobacco smoking in Benin, as well as the gender differences in smoking behaviors and associated health impacts.