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Tobacco smoking in Belarus

Profile
Belarus Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Belarus Background
Profile
Belarus Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Data sourced: 2025.   Page updated: 2026-08-07

In Belarus, smoking is allowed but there are some restrictions on tobacco products to follow. The sale of cigarettes is allowed, but purchasing them from vending machines or through online channels is not permitted. Cigarette imports for trade are allowed with an import license. There is a total ban on their advertising. Moreover, health warnings on cigarette packaging are required, and the minimum legal age for purchasing them is 18 years. There are also some restrictions on smoking in public places such as educational and healthcare facilities. Cigarettes are subject to a total taxation rate of 57% including a specific excise rate of 39.93%.

Statistics show that Belarus had an estimated 1.7 million current adult smokers in 2024, representing an adult current smoking prevalence of 22.9%. Among adult males, the current smoking prevalence was 38.7%, and among adult females, it was 9.6%. In 2022, the adult daily smoking prevalence was 20.3% overall, 39.1% among males, and 8.1% among females. There were an estimated 1.6 million daily smokers in 2022. Smoking led to approximately 19,800 deaths Belarus in 2021. Of these, 17000 deaths were among males and 2,800 deaths were among females. This indicates that smoking accounted for 12.23% of all deaths in the country, including 21.21% of male deaths and 3.42% of female deaths in 2021.

Prevalence

Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 2.1 million 1A
2024 1.7 million 1B
References:
  1. (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/
  2. 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
Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 26.6% 1A
2020 23.7% 1B
2020 24.4% 1C
2022 23.6% 1D A
2022 22.6% 1E B
2024 22.9% 1F
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. National Household Survey 2020, https://untobaccocontrol.org/impldb/wp-content/uploads/Belarus_2020_WHOFCTCreport.pdf
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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-blr.pdf?sfvrsn=f98fe67_3&download=true. Accessed: 9 June 2025.
  6. 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
Comments:
  1. Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
  2. Adults survey: выборочное обследование домашних хозяйств по уровню жизни (Sample survey of households living standards), 2022; National, ages 16+
Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 10.4% 1A
2020 10.1% 1B
2020 9.5% 1C
2022 9.6% 1D A
2022 10% 1E B
2024 9.6% 1F
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. National Household Survey 2020, https://untobaccocontrol.org/impldb/wp-content/uploads/Belarus_2020_WHOFCTCreport.pdf
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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-blr.pdf?sfvrsn=f98fe67_3&download=true. Accessed: 9 June 2025.
  6. 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
Comments:
  1. Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
  2. Adults survey: выборочное обследование домашних хозяйств по уровню жизни (Sample survey of households living standards), 2022; National, ages 16+
Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 42.8% 1A
2020 43.2% 1B
2020 42.2% 1C
2022 40.7% 1D A
2022 42% 1E B
2024 38.7% 1F
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. National Household Survey 2020, https://untobaccocontrol.org/impldb/wp-content/uploads/Belarus_2020_WHOFCTCreport.pdf
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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-blr.pdf?sfvrsn=f98fe67_3&download=true. Accessed: 9 June 2025.
  6. 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
Comments:
  1. Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
  2. Adults survey: выборочное обследование домашних хозяйств по уровню жизни (Sample survey of households living standards), 2022; National, ages 16+
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier 1.7 million 2A A
2020 1.8 million 2B B
2022 1.6 million 2C C
References:
  1. 1. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/ 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. 1. WHO. 2020 STEPS Country Report Belarus (Russian). Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/2020-steps-country-report-belarus-(russian). Accessed: 6 August 2026. 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  3. 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-blr.pdf?sfvrsn=f98fe67_3&download=true. Accessed: 9 June 2025. 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
Comments:
  1. 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 World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  3. Adults survey: выборочное обследование домашних хозяйств по уровню жизни (Sample survey of households living standards), 2022; National, ages 16+ World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier 22.2% 3A A
2020 23% 3B
2022 20.3% 3C B
References:
  1. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/
  2. WHO. 2020 STEPS Country Report Belarus (Russian). Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/2020-steps-country-report-belarus-(russian). Accessed: 6 August 2026.
  3. 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-blr.pdf?sfvrsn=f98fe67_3&download=true. Accessed: 9 June 2025.
Comments:
  1. 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
  2. Adults survey: выборочное обследование домашних хозяйств по уровню жизни (Sample survey of households living standards), 2022; National, ages 16+
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier 7.4% 3A A
2020 9.3% 3B
2022 8.1% 3C B
References:
  1. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/
  2. WHO. 2020 STEPS Country Report Belarus (Russian). Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/2020-steps-country-report-belarus-(russian). Accessed: 6 August 2026.
  3. 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-blr.pdf?sfvrsn=f98fe67_3&download=true. Accessed: 9 June 2025.
Comments:
  1. 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
  2. Adults survey: выборочное обследование домашних хозяйств по уровню жизни (Sample survey of households living standards), 2022; National, ages 16+
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier 40% 3A A
2020 36.7% 3B
2022 39.1% 3C B
References:
  1. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/
  2. WHO. 2020 STEPS Country Report Belarus (Russian). Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/2020-steps-country-report-belarus-(russian). Accessed: 6 August 2026.
  3. 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-blr.pdf?sfvrsn=f98fe67_3&download=true. Accessed: 9 June 2025.
Comments:
  1. 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
  2. Adults survey: выборочное обследование домашних хозяйств по уровню жизни (Sample survey of households living standards), 2022; National, ages 16+
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. 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-blr.pdf?sfvrsn=f98fe67_3&download=true. Accessed: 9 June 2025. 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  3. 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-blr.pdf?sfvrsn=f98fe67_3&download=true. Accessed: 9 June 2025.
Comments:
  1. Adults survey: выборочное обследование домашних хозяйств по уровню жизни (Sample survey of households living standards), 2022; National, ages 16+ World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. Adults survey: выборочное обследование домашних хозяйств по уровню жизни (Sample survey of households living standards), 2022; National, ages 16+

Smoking-related mortality

Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 17,819 1A
2021 19,796 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.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 2,629 1A
2021 2,789 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.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 15,190 1A
2021 17,006 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.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 22.03% 1A
2021 12.23% 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. 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.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 4.3% 1A
2021 3.42% 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. 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.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 25.1% 1A
2021 21.21% 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. 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-blr.pdf?sfvrsn=f98fe67_3&download=true. Accessed: 9 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-blr.pdf?sfvrsn=f98fe67_3&download=true. Accessed: 9 June 2025.
Comments:
  1. There are some restrictions.

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-blr.pdf?sfvrsn=f98fe67_3&download=true. Accessed: 9 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 some restrictions.
  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-blr.pdf?sfvrsn=f98fe67_3&download=true. Accessed: 9 June 2025.
Comments:
  1. Restrictions exist only in some public places such as educational facilities.

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-blr.pdf?sfvrsn=f98fe67_3&download=true. Accessed: 9 June 2025.
Comments:
  1. Total taxes: 56.59%
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.